:ITRUS 

CULTURE 

for 


ROFI! 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
AT   LOS  ANGELES 


Wilson  &  Toomer 
Fertilizer  Co. 


Citrus  Culture  for  Profit 

SECOND  EDITION 

1913 


Wouldst  have  abundant  crops  re-ivard  thy  toil, 
And  fill  thy  barns,   O  tiller  of  the  soil? 
Then  e=ver  keep  in  mind  this  maxim  true, 
Feed  -ice  II  the  land,  and  'twill  in  turn  feed  you. 


PRICE,  CLOTH  BOUND,  FIFTY  CENTS,  POSTPAID 
PRICE,  PAPER  COVERS,  TWENTY-FIVE  CENTS,  POSTPAID 


FREE   BOOKLETS 


How  and  When  to  Fertilize  Citrus  Trees 
Full  Crops — Half  Drops 

Good  Fruit 
For  Value  Received 

(The  last  three  citrus  books  are  issued  in  season) 
Ideal  Results  from  Ideal  Fertilizers 

Acid  Soils 

Lime:  Its  Forms  and  Effects 
Florida  Vegetables 

Irish  Potatoes 

Melons  and  Cucumbers 

Florida  Strawberries 

Pecans 
More  Cotton — Less  Work 

Cotton  Farming 
•  Loiccr  East  Coast  Section 

Ideal  Fertilizers,  a  booklet  giving  the  analyses,  prices,  etc.,  of  our 
different  brands. 

SPECIAL  EDITIONS 

Keji  to  Success:  General  principles  of  soil  management,  what  a 
fertilizer  tag  means,  effect  of  different  fertilizer  materials, 
etc.  Cloth  bound,  50  cents ;  paper  covers,  25  cents. 

Control  of  Insects  and  Diseases  in  Grove,  Garden  and  Field. — A 
complete  treatise  describing  the  different  insects  and  diseases 
and  means  of  prevention,  control  and  remedy  including  crop 
rotation,  recipes  for  making  and  mixing  insecticides  and  fungi- 
cides, directions  for  their  use  and  description  of  effective 
spraying  implements.  Cloth  bound,  75  cents;  paper  covers, 
50  cents. 


CITRUS  CULTURE 

FOR  PROFIT 


PRACTICAL   DIRECTIONS 

BY 
N.  M.   G.  FRANCE 


WILSON  &  TOOMER  FERTILIZER  CO. 


To  Our  Friends 


Copyright  1911,  by 

Wilson  &  Toomer  Fertilizer  Co. 

All  rights  reserved. 


Nn 

Preface 


In  presenting  this  little  volume  to  our  readers  we  lay  before 
them  the  methods  of  citrus  culture  that  have  proved  to  be  prac- 
tical and  profitable.  We  are  supplying  the  needs  of  those  who 

U  wish   to  make  citrus  culture  a  business,   and  in  so  doing  have 
S 
I    eliminated  the  historical  and  botanical  features,  interesting  to  a 

^  student  but  of  no  value  in  making  a  grove  a  profitable  investment. 

(  The  methods  we  give  in  the  following  pages  are  not  based  upon 

^  the  experience  of  one  person  merely,  but  are  a  compilation  of  the 

ways  to  success  followed  by  leading  growers  in  different  parts  of 

^  the   State  and  cover  experiences  from  the  birth  of  the  citrus 

v^yidustry.     This   information   has   been   gathered   and   edited   by 

Xone  who  has  not  only  had  years  of  practical  experience,  but  has 

*  carefully  studied  the  scientific  principles  underlying  all   phases 

x  of  the  citrus  industry — and  we  send  it  out  with  full  faith  in  its 

(  lability  to  fulfill  its  mission. 

Wilson  &  Toomer   Fertilizer  Co. 
Jacksonville,  Fla.,  Jan.  1,  1911. 


Preface  to  Second  Edition 


It  may  interest  our  many  friends  to  know  that  the  first  edition 
of  Citrus  Culture  for  Profit  has  been  sold  in  every  part  of  the 
English-speaking  world,  even  in  far-off  Australia,  India,  and 
Southern  Africa ;  also  in  Germany.  France,  Chile,  Brazil,  Japan, 
and  other  countries  which  have  a  keen  interest  in  horticultural 
subjects  and  look  to  the  world's  best  sources  for  information. 
From  all  readers,  whether  scientists  or  growers,  it  has  received 
unstinted  praise,  so  we  take  pleasure  in  sending  out  this  revised 
work  trusting  it  will  be  equally  well  received. 

Wilson   &   Toomer    Fertilizer   Co. 

Jacksonville,  Fla.,  May  1,  1913. 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  I. 

PAGE. 

Location  

1 

CHAPTER  IT. 

Preparation    of    Land 

4 

CHAPTER  III. 

Varieties    

7 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Planting   the    Trees    .  . 

13 

C'HAPTER  V. 

Culture     

18 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Fertilizer      .... 

24 

Fertilizer    Values     .... 
Fertilizing     
Picking    and    Packing 

CHAPTER  VII. 

...'..      34 
38 
47 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

CHAPTER   IX. 

CHAPTER  X. 

Preventives    and    Remedies    for    Insects    and    Diseases 
Citrus   Grove    . 

in    the 
53 

Springtime. 


(By  our  Special  Artist. J 


CHAPTEIl  I. 
Location 

It  is  rather  bewildering  to  the  prospective  citrus  grower  to 
lind  flourishing  groves  in  such  diverse  situations  and  to  hear  from 
equally  successful  growers  entirely  different  methods  of  culture. 
The  citrus  tree  has  certain  needs,  and  when  these  needs  are 
supplied  it  grows  to  perfection.  When  they  are  restricted  it  is 
quick  to  show  the  effect.  This  is  the  keynote  to  the  equal  success 
found  in  low  hammock  and  all  the  varying  soils  to  high  pine  land, 
and  to  the  failures  that  are  side  by  side  with  these  successes  all 
over  the  State.  Where  the  soil  is  not  underlaid  with  quicksand, 
or  with  hardpan  coining  within  three  feet  of  the  surface,  a  grove 
can  be  made  by  using  the  proper  means,  but  these  means  are  so 
much  more  difficult  and  expensive  in  some  instances  than  others, 
it  is  well  to  consider  what  is  ahead  of  the  grove-maker  before 
one  "puts  his  hand  to  the  plow." 

Many  people  err  in  striving  to  get  "cheap  land."  A  few 
dollars  or  a  few  hundred  dollars  really  is  not  of  much  moment  in 
comparison  to  obtaining  the  right  location  and  right  cultural 
conditions.  If  it  is  to  be  a  family  home,  scenic  beauty  should  be 
considered  also,  but  we  will  dwell  only  upon  the  financial  side  of 
the  matter.  Fertilizer  is  heavy  and  the  citrus  crop  is  still  heavier. 
One  has  to  be  hauled  from  the  station  to  the  grove  and  the  other 
from  the  grove  to  the  station,  and  various  other  things  smaller 
than  the  above  items  but  considerable  in  themselves  have  to  b-e 
hauled  also ;  therefore  each  quarter-mile  added  to  the  distance  of 
location  from  the  shipping  point  is  going  to  be  multiplied  many 
times  as  the  years  go  by  and  paid  for  most  dearly  in  time  and 
general  wear  on  the  team.  It  is  cheaper  to  pay  in  the  start  to 


2  WILSON  &  TOOMEU  FERTILIZER  COMPANY 

have  the  distance  as  short  as  possible.  Another  important  item 
is  good  roads.  If  the  good  roads  are  already  there  one  can  well 
afford  to  pay  a  premium ;  but  if  not,  it  certainly  behooves  the 
prospective  settler  to  notice  the  chances  of  getting  them  in  the 
near  future. 

Our  choice  of  land  would  be  a  rich  sandy  loam  with  a  clay 
subsoil  from  two  to  four  feet  below  the  surface,  though  there  are 
many  fine  grapefruit  groves  on  sandy  lands  underlaid  with  yellow 
soil.  There  is  also  much  to  be  said  in  favor  of  the  heavier  lands 
down  to  the  richest  of  hammocks.  Other  lands  than  these  should 
be  avoided,  for  the  expense  of  making  the  grove  will  make  too 
great  inroads  upon  the  returns  to  have  the  profits  satisfactory. 
For  instance,  a  sandy  loam  soil  equally  as  good  as  our  choice 
named  aLx>ve,  but  with  a  sand  subsoil,  will  not  hold  moisture 
enough  to  sustain  the  trees,  and  as  the  moisture  leaches  away 
it  will  take  with  it  a  large  percentage  of  the  plant  food.  If  the 
site  can  be  on  the  south  or  southeast  side  of  deep  water  it  will 
be  protected  from  cold  to  a  great  extent,  but  such  fortunate 
locations  are  not  easily  found;  however,  one  often  can  make  sure 
of  a  good  windbreak  along  the  north  and  northwest  of  his 
proposed  grove.  The  windbreak  should  be  included  in  the  pur- 
chase and  not  left  open  to  the  chance  of  someone  cutting  it  away. 

Drainage  should  also  be  given  careful  consideration.  There 
can  be  no  success  without  proper  drainage,  either  natural  or 
artificial,  and  land  naturally  drained  or  easily  drained  is  worth 
far  more  than  that  needing  an  extensive  drainage  system.  Drain- 
age is  an  expensive  item  in  most  hammock  groves,  but  the  con- 
stant moisture  is  a  great  advantage.  The  young  trees  are  likely 
to  start  off  better  and  after  the  first  expense  of  clearing  and 
ditching,  the  grove,  if  handled  right,  generally  takes  less  from  its 
owner's  pocketbook  for  the  results  it  gives.  One  of  the  best 
groves  in  the  State,  which  also  produces  the  fanciest  of  fruit,  is 
in  a  hammock  so  low  ditches  are  cut  between  each  row  of  trees 
and  the  water  table  is  only  two  feet  below  the  crown  roots. 


IDEAL  FERTILIZERS  3 

Needless  to  say  this  is  an  extreme  situation  and  one  that  only  an 
expert  could  handle  with  success.  He  cultivates  just  enough  but 
not  too  much,  and  when  the  land  is  in  exactly  the  right  condition 
so  that  it  is  aerated  and  not  "puddled"  or  soured,  and  fertilizes 
so  judiciously  as  to  overcome  all  the  rank  coarseness  natural  to 
fruit  grown  on  such  rich  land.  No  one  could  give  the  prospective 
grower  directions  for  doing  this — he  would  need  to  watch  condi- 
tions and  act  at  exactly  the  right  time.  When  soil  is  lighter  and 
less  wet,  the  time  and  manner  of  cultivation  is  of  less  importance, 
hence  our  choice  of  a  sandy  loam,  for  there  are  few  of  us  so 
especially  gifted  in  judging  soil  conditions.  We  can  more  easily 
learn  to  add  humus  to  our  land  and  to  cultivate  in  a  way  to  con- 
serve moisture  than  to  judge  to  a  nicety  the  exact  needs  of  a  low 
hammock ;  but  these  points  will  be  taken  up  more  in  detail  under 
Culture.  Chapter  V. 


The  Site  of  a  Future  Pineland  Grove. 


WILSON  &  TOOMER  FERTILIZER  COMPANY 


CHAPTER   II. 

Preparation  of  Land 

There  is  one  fine  grove  where  the  owner  set  his  trees  in 
cleared  spots  and  finished  clearing  the  land  "while  the  trees  were 
growing."  We  wish  we  could  have  watched  the  clearing  with  the 
endeavor  to  learn  the  "saving  circumstances"  in  this  particular 
case,  for  others  trying  this  way  have  invariably  failed.  All  new 
comers  will  do  well  to  shun  such  get-rich-quick  plans. 

Properly  preparing  land  is  quite  an  expense,  hut  it  is  far 
better  to  set  from  one  to  five  acres  aud  have  the  trees  started 
right  than  to  spread  the  same  investment  over  five  to  twenty-five 
acres  and  make  a  failure.  It  is  impossible  to  tell  the  cost  of 
preparing  land,  but  it  is  safe  to  reckon  on  from  fifty  to  seventy- 
five  dollars  per  acre  for  strong  pine  land  to  twice  that  for  rich 
hammock.  This  will  generally  include  ditches  and  fences. 

It  does  not  pay  to  select  sparsely  covered  land  to  save  ex- 
pense in  clearing,  for  that  which  has  not  produced  native  growth 
cannot  be  -  expected  to  produce  cultivated  crops.  The  lack  of 
trees  and  saw  palmetto  shows  land  is  at  least  saturated,  if  not 
actually  covered,  witli  water  during  several  months  of  the  year. 
We  mention  this  because  we  have  seen  so  many  houses  erected  in 
such  open  places  by  people  coming  to  the  place  in  dry  seasons. 
Such  "savannas,"  as  they  are  called,  will  be  found  running 
through  many  tracts  of  land.  After  good  drainage  is  established 
these  "savannas"  are  usually  more  fertile  than  the  surrounding 
areas,  brut  they  should  not  be  selected  for  building  sites.  • 

In  clearing  land  it  is  far  better  to  contract  for  a  certain 
price  per  acre  with  an  experienced  person  than  to  have  it  done 
by  day  labor.  There  is  a  great  deal  in  knowing  how  to  get  at 


IDEAL   FERTILIZERS  5 

the  work  in  the  right  way,  and  while  the  contractor  may  make 
a  good  profit  on  the  job,  it  will  undoubtedly  cost  far  more  to 
employ  unskilled  workmen.  It  is  generally  best  to  remove  in 
one  way  or  another  all  the  roots  and  bushes  taken  out,  as  well 
as  the  trees,  though  some  pile  in  windrows,  where  it  takes 
years  for  them  to  decay,  and  all  that  time  they  make  an  un- 
sightly, inconvenient  mass.  On  damp,  heavy  land  the  rubbish 
can  be  burned,  but  on  dry,  loamy  soil  such  fires  will  burn  the 
humus  in  the  land  and  do  a  great  deal  of  damage.  In  disposing 
of  trees  one  is  most  fortunate  if  he4  can  sell  the  trunks  to  a 
sawmill  and  work  the  larger  limbs  into  stove  wood,  using  the 
tops  to  burn  out  the  stumps,  but  few  find  this  ideal  condition. 
The  trees  should  be  removed  in  some  way,  though,  for  however 
strenuous  a  job  it  is  at  the  time  of  clearing,  it  will  be  far  more 
complicated  when  the  citrus  trees  are  set  and  have  to  be  con- 
sidered in  all  one's  movements.  Each  locality  has  generally 
found  a  satisfactory  way  to  dispose  of  the  native  growth,  and 
one  can  be  guided  accordingly. 

Ditching  is  the  next  proposition.  Even  the  best  naturally 
drained  land  is  better  off  to  be  surrounded  by  a  "root"  ditch 
which  prevents  the  wild  growth  from  sending  roots  into  the 
cultivated  land.  The  mellow  soil  and  bountiful  supply  of  plant 
food  have  great  attractions,  and  the  distance  these  wild  roots 
will  run  is  incredible  to  those  who  have  not  seen  them.  The 
root  ditch  also  prevents  the  water  seeping  from  the  wild  land  into 
the  grove.  This  water  carries  tannic  acid  and  other  deleterious 
matters  and  often  does  noticeable  damage  in  rainy  seasons,  while 
at  all  times  it  is  an  unseen  power  working  against  desirable 
conditions. 

People  are  altogether  too  ready  to  believe  Nature  has  pro- 
vided sufficient  drainage.  On  this  point  it  is  far  better  to  be  a 
pessimist  than  an  optimist.  When  for  any  length  of  time  water 
fills  the  spaces  between  the  soil  particles,  driving  out  the  air 
necessary  to  nitrifying  bacteria,  these  bacteria  die  and  it  takes 


G  WILSON  &  TOOMER  FERTILIZER  COMPANY 

months  1'or  them  to  become  re-established.  By  that  time  another 
rainy  spell  comes  on  and  the  circle  is  gone  over  again,  so  the 
land  that  needs  draining  a  small  part  of  the  year  is  practically 
very  little  better  than  that  which  needs  it  the  greater  part;  but 
it  will  take  a  less  extensive  drainage  system  to  relieve  it.  Ex- 
perience has  taught  us  that  underground  drainage  is  not  a  suc- 
cess in  citrus  groves,  because  the  roots  will  soon  work  their 
way  in  and  choke  the  passage  ways.  Open  ditches  should  be 
used  and  the  way  they  are  arranged  depends  entirely  upon  the 
lay  of  the  land.  Each  place  must  fre  ditched  according  to  its 
needs.  When  plowing  such  land  the  last  time  before  setting 
the  trees,  it  is  best  to  lay  it  off  in  beds,  leaving  a  water  furrow 
between  each  row  of  trees. 

Barbed  wire  seems  to  be  the  standard  fencing,  having  won 
its  place  by  the  service  it  gives  for  the  money  invested.  It 
should  be  put  up  so  that  the  wires  are  taut  and  the  effect 
pleasing.  It  is  well  to  do  this  clearing,  ditching  and  fencing 
during  the  winter,  and  at  springtime  plow  and  spread  broadcast 
one  ton  per  acre  of  hydrated  lime  or  twice  that  of  crushed  lime- 
stone. The  light,  dry  lands  need  less  lime  than  heavy,  wet  lands. 
Harrow  and  cross-harrow  until  the  ground  is  in  good  tilth  and 
sow  about  a  bushel  of  cowpeas  to  the  acre.  The  lime  will 
sweeten  the  soil  and  hasten  the  disintegration  of  the  broken 
roots  left  in  the  ground,  while  the  cowpeas  shade  the  ground 
over  summer  and  keep  the  summer  rains  from  leaching  it  and 
in  their  growth  not  only  enrich  the  soil  by  the  addition  of  nitrogen, 
but  remove  certain  factors  common  to  new  land  which  are  un- 
favorable to  citrus  growth.  In  the  fall  they  should  be  mowed 
and,  when  dry.  chopped  into  the  land  with  a  cut-a-way  harrow, 
thus  increasing  the  humus  content  which  is  beneficial  to  all  our 
Florida  land. 


IDEAL   FERTILIZERS 


CHAPTER  III. 

Varieties 

Many  representatives  of  the  citrus  family  can  be  grown  in 
Florida — kumquats,  the  several  groups  of  oranges,  pomelos, 
shaddocks,  citrons,  limes  and  lemons — but  generally  the  inves- 
tor has  learned  to  confine  his  operations  to  the  orange  and 
"grapefruit,"  as  the  pomelo  is  popularly  called.  There  are,  of 
course,  some  exceptions. 

For  our  readers'  information,  we  will  dwell  more  fully  upon 
the  different  kinds  and  varieties  than  a  strictly  financial  view- 
point would  warrant,  because  often  one  wishes  to  have  a  few 
trees  for  pleasure  rather  than  profit. 

Kumquat. — The  kumquat  is  a  strictly  fancy  product,  used 
more  for  its  decorative  qualities  than  for  consumption,  though 
many  are  fond  of  the  fruit  both  fresh  and  preserved.  The  rind 
is  not  removed,  for  its  spicy  flavor  combines  happily  with  the 
acid  juice.  For  decoration,  twigs  are  cut  carrying  several  of 
the  richly  colored  fruit  nestling  among  glossy,  dark  green  leaves. 
The  kumquat  grows  on  a  shrub  rather  than  a  tree,  as  it  seldom 
reaches  a  height  of  more  than  ten  or  fifteen  feet  and  is  gener- 
ally fully  as  wide  as  it  is  high  and  a  mass  of  foliage.  The  two 
leading  varieties  are  the  oblong  and  the  round,  but  the  former  is 
greatly  to  be  preferred.  The  kumquat  is  quite  hardy,  especially 
when  grown  on  trifoliate  stock,  and  flourishes  with  a  little 
protection  in  the  extreme  northern  part  of  the  State. 

Shaddock. — The  shaddock  is  raised  only  as  a  curiosity  be- 
cause its  fruit  is  so  large,  weighing  sometimes  as  much  as 
fifteen  or  twenty  pounds.  One  variety  has  a  pink  pulp.  The 
shaddock  is  often  confounded  with  the  grapefruit  because  they 


8  WILSON  &  TOOMER  FERTILIZER  COMPANY 

are  of  the  same  species  botanically,  but  to  the  consumer  there 
is  a  vast  difference  with  all  points  in  favor  of  the  grapefruit. 

Citron. — The  citron,  which  is  of  value  only  for  its  thick 
rind,  from  which  can  be  made  a  product  equal  to  the  candied 
citron  of  commerce,  will  flourish  in  the  extreme  south  and  on 
the  islands,  but  though  this  industry  never  has  received  much 
attention,  even  the  little  interest  that  has  been  shown  it  has 
died  out  and  it  is  only  occasionally  one  sees  a  tree  left,  and 
then  rather  on  sufferance  than  because  its  owner  cares  for  it. 
The  best  variety  is  called  the  Lemon  Citron.  The  fruit  weighs 
from  three  to  eight  pounds. 

Lime. — The  lime  is  our  most  sensitive  member  of  the  citrus 
family.  It  has  become  naturalized  in  the  southern  part  of  the 
State  and  the  islands,  and  grows  well  under  most  adverse  con- 
ditions. For  some  reason,  though  it  is  a  most  popular  fruit,  it 
has  not  proved  a  remunerative  one  generally  to  the  grower  wrho 
has  tried  to  cultivate  it  for  profit.  Whether  this  is  a  fault  in  the 
shipping  or  otherwise  we  are  not  prepared  to  say.  Every 
settler  should  have  two  or  three  lime  bushes  for  his  home  use, 
protecting  them  during  cold  spells  when  situated  far  enough 
north  to  need  such  protection.  The  common  small  Mexican 
lime  is  by  far  the  most  satisfactory.  Individual  specimens 
of  the  Raugpur  and  the  Tahiti  are  larger  and  seem  superior  at 
first,  b*ut  one  soon  longs  for  the  good  old-fashioned  lime.  The 
Rangpur  is  of  medium  size  and  seems  to  be  of  the  Man- 
darin family.  Its  abundant  juice  is  a  clear,  strong  acid,  very 
pleasant  to  the  taste,  but  not  at  all  like  a  lime.  Indeed,  it  is 
rather  a  mystery  why  this  fruit  is  classed  with  limes.  The 
Tahiti  is  a  real  lime  of  large  size  and  very  juicy  and  seedless. 
In  Florida  it  is  inclined  to  decay  on  the  trees  by  the  time  it 
reaches  maturity. 

Lemon. — At  one  time  the  lemon  industry  in  Florida  was 
quite  important,  but  it  has  dwindled  to  insignificant  proportions. 
The  lemon  is  too  tender  to  be  a  sound  financial  proposition 


IDEAL  FERTILIZERS  9 

except  in  the  extreme  southern  part  of  the  State,  and  people 
have  turned  their  investments  into  other  channels.  However, 
every  home  should  have  a  tree  or  two.  For  this  purpose  the 
Everbearing  is  a  favorite  because  of  its  constant  fruitage,  but 
the  rind  is  altogether  too  rough  and  the  seeds  too  plentiful  to 
make  it  an  article  of  commerce.  The  Villa  Franca  is  also  used. 
The  tree  is  practically  thornless  and  is  prolific,  while  the  fruit 
is  most  desirable  in  appearance  as  well  as  in  quality.  This 
variety  has  predominated  in  Florida  plantings. 

Hybrids. — There  are  several  hybrids  of  more  or  less  value 
that  make  a  pleasant  addition  to  one's  home  supply  of  fruit,  but 
such  trees  are  not  on  the  market,  and  many  of  them  have  not 
been  thoroughly  tested,  so  we  will  not  try  to  describe  them  here. 

Oranges. — Years  ago,  when  one  was  about  to  set  an  orange 
grove,  he  was  confronted  with  a  score  or  more  varieties  all 
clamoring  for  first  and  greatest  attention.  Those  varieties  have 
been  dropped  one  by  one,  as  they  were  found  to  be  lacking 
in  some  essential  point  until  the  would-be  grower  of  today  finds 
only  a  few  claimants  for  a  place  in  a  financial  investment  and 
perhaps  a  half  dozen  non-profitable  favorites  because  of  some 
special  quality.  We  will  quote  from  two  equally  good  authorities, 
both  having  had  wide  experience  throughout  the  State  for  the 
past  thirty  years.  One  has  looked  more  to  the  orange  grove 
that  is  also  a  home  and  the  other  has  more  thoroughly  experi- 
enced the  setting  of  great  groves  as  a  financial  investment. 

The  first  says :  "A  very  satisfactory  proportion  has  been 
found  by  planting  one-third  of  the  grove  to  grapefruit,  about 
one-half  to  oranges  divided  into  early,  medium  and  late  varieties, 
and  the  remainder  to  Dancy's  Tangerines.  For  the  grapefruit 
the  Duncan  and  the  Indian  River  are  good  varieties,  the  former 
ripening  the  earlier,  while  Parson  Brown,  Pineapple  and  Valen- 
cia oranges  furnish  fruit  at  three  different  seasons.  There  are 
many  other  varieties,  but  as  we  cannot  give  space  to  all  we 
simply  name  some  of  the  best  known." 


10  WILSON  &  TOOMER   FERTILIZER  COMPANY 

The  second  tells  us :  "In  planting  a  grove  these  days,  when 
fruit  is  being  handled  in  carlots  more  than  in  any  other  way, 
it  would  be  the  part  of  wisdom  to  select  one  good  variety  that 
is  proving  highly  successful  in  the  community,  and  let  the  entire 
grove  be  planted  to  that  one  variety. 

"Among  the  diversified  lands  of  Florida  we  have  here  one 
piece  that  is  particularly  suited  to  grapefruit,  and  there  we 
have  another  piece  that  is  admirably  suited  to  the  production 
of  early  oranges,  such  as  Parson  Brown,  etc.  On  still  another 
place  we  have  a  piece  of  land  containing  a  high  precentage  of 
iron  and  lime  and  well  adapted  to  the  production  of  highly 
colored  and  perfect  specimens  of  the  Pineapple  orange.  On 
other  soils  we  have  the  moisture  preserving  and  attracting 
nature  that  enables  to  grow  and  to  hold  over  in  perfect  condition 
the  Valencia  Late  or  Hart's  Late;  and  our  varietal  selection 
should  be  made  with  due  consideration  of  all  these  points ;  and 
if  the  land  is  suitable  for  any  one  class  of  fruit,  like  those  de- 
scribed above,  do  not  diversify  on  any  particular  ten-acre  tract.'' 

The  Parson  Brown  is  medium  to  large  in  size,  yellow  in 
color,  sometimes  with  orange  tinge,  rind  smooth  and  bright. 
Its  season  is  about  October  and  November,  and  if  it  is  not 
gathered  when  matured  soon  loses  its  flavor.  Often  the  fruit 
will  be  rape  and  sweet  when  the  rind  is  still  green. 

The  Pineapple  is  oval  to  round  in  shape,  size  medium 
to  large,  has  deep  rich  orange  color,  often  with  reddish  tinge, 
rind  most  attractive,  being  very  bright,  smooth  and  glossy.  The 
juice  is  abundant  and  of  exceptionally  good  flavor.  Its  season 
is  about  January  or  February,  but  it  can  be  held  later.  Really, 
at  the  present  time,  this  is  the  favorite  orange  because  of  its 
many  good  qualities,  and  the  new  orange  groves  set  by  old 
growers  show  a  very  large  percentage  of  this  variety. 

The  Valencia  Late  and  Hart's  Late  are  so  nearly  alike  their 
best  friends  make  little  or  no  distinction  between  them.  They 
are  round  or  slightly  oval  in  form,  medium  and  large  size,  deep 


IDEAL  FERTILIZERS  11 

golden  orange  in  color  with  thin,  smooth,  tough  rind.  They 
have  abundant  juice  of  rich  flavor,  and  such  a  combination  of 
acidity  and  sweetness  as  to  fc«  especially  pleasing  during  the 
spring  months — March  to  June — when  they  are  in  season. 

The  oranges  of  the  Mandarin  family  are  so  attractive  in 
appearance  and  the  neatness  with  which  they  can  be  handled 
that  the  effort  to  make  them  profitable  has  been  a  strenuous 
one.  They  are  distinctly  a  fancy  product,  and  any  lack  in  ap- 
pearance or  quality  practically  bars  them  from  the  market,  for 
the  epicure  does  not  want  them  at  all  and  the  ordinary  con- 
sumer only  at  extremely  low  prices.  The  grower  must  mid  a 
generous  market  to  make  a  profit,  for  the  fruit  is  small,  and 
therefore  it  takes  a  great  many  to  a  box  and  much  work  to 
wrap  and  pack  them.  If,  however,  the  fruit  is  of  the  right  quality 
and  is  put  up  in  strictly  fancy  packages  it  will  bring  him  pleas- 
ing returns.  Of  the  several  varieties  included  in  this  family,  rhe 
Dancy  Tangerine  is  the  only  one  which,  when  grown  under 
Florida  conditions,  seems  to  develop  sufficient  fruit  of  the  right 
quality  to  make  it  profitable.  It  is  oblate  in  form,  medium  size, 
deep  orange  red.  smooth,  shiny  rind  which  is  easily  removed, 
sections  separate  easily,  flesh  dark  orange  in  color,  coarse 
grained,  abundant  juice,  scarcely  any  rag,  flavor  rich ;  season, 
December  and  January. 

Of  the  special  favorites  we  will  mention  but  three.  The 
King  is  of  the  Mandarin  family.  Is  most  unattractive  in  appear- 
ance, but  of  delicious  flavor.  Wood  is  very  l.rittle  and  branches 
break  when  well  loaded  with  fruit.  The  Ruby  Blood  orange  has 
a  delicious  flavor  and  is  interesting  because  its  flesh  is  first 
yellow,  then  streaked  with  red  and  finally  becomes  blood-red 
when  fully  ripe.  The  fruit  is  of  small  size  and  the  tree  very 
susceptible  to  attacks  of  diseases.  The  Washington  Navel  is 
also  a  novelty  because  of  the  secondary  orange  in  the  blossom 
end  giving  it  the  navel-like  appearance,  and  is  delicious  to  the 
taste.  It  is  a  great  commercial  success  in  California,  but  has 
proved  a  very  shy  bearer  in  Florida. 


12  WILSON  &  TOOMER  FERTILIZER   COMPANY 

It  is  from  the  oranges  described  above  that  the  orange  grower 
now  makes  his  choice.  He  plants  for  early,  medium  or  late 
shipment  as  suits  him  personally,  or  the  location  he  has  selected, 
and  if  he  decides  to  cater  to  the  tangerine  epicure's  taste,  he 
plants  the  Dancy.  He  no  longer  weighs  and  re-weighs  the 
respective  merits  of  a  dozen  different  varieties  of  each  class. 

Grapefruit. — But  the  grove-maker  of  today  is  likely  to  be 
more  interested  in  grapefruit  than  oranges.  The  increasing 
demand  for  this  product  is  incredible,  and  the  hundreds  of  acres 
that  have  come  into  bearing  the  past  two  or  three  years  seem 
to  have  no  effect  upon  the  high  prices  prevailing.  Many  are 
making  a  large  portion  or  even  all  their  new  plantings  of  grape- 
fruit rather  than  oranges.  In  such  case  they  generally  select 
the  Duncan  as  the  most  satisfactory  variety.  It  is  oblate  in  form, 
of  medium  size,  attractive  appearance  and  fine  flavor.  It  bears 
freely,  but  not  in  such  close  clusters  as  to  mar  the  fruit,  and  is 
desirable  in  every  way. 

Other  Varieties. — To  those  who  have  a  favorite  variety  not 
mentioned  in  the  above  list,  we  would  say,  we  in  no  way  class 
all  unmeutioned  fruit  as  worthless.  This  book  is  not  intended  to 
include  full  data  on  the  subject;  we  are  simply  pointing  out  to 
the  would-be  investor  the  kinds  that  have  given  the  best  results 
generally,  and  we  are  sure  none  can  deny  that  position  to  the  ones 
we  have  named  whatever  special  successes  he  may  have  known. 


IDEAL  FERTILIZERS  13 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Planting  the  Trees 

In  the  "good  old  days"  the  greater  number  of  groves  were 
started  from  the  seed.  Sweet  seedlings  were  numerous,  and 
where  other  stock  was  used  it  generally  was  raised  in  some  ob- 
scure corner  and  grafted,  or  more  often  budded,  with  wood 
from  some  favorite  tree  either  growing  on  the  home  place  or 
owned  by  a  neighbor.  Failures  of  the  buds  to  take  were  many 
at  first,  but  the  knack  of  budding  was  soon  gained,  for  it 
was  necessary  knowledge  at  that  time.  There  were  no  well 
established  nurseries,  and  in  the  rare  instances  where  budded 
stock  could  be  bought  one  could  not  feel  sure  he  was  getting 
desirable  trees,  and  it  was  too  great  a  risk  to  run. 

These  conditions  are  so  completely  changed  that  we  feel 
justified  in  omitting  the  chapter  on  propagation  that  appears 
in  all  citrus  publications.  The  grove-maker  of  today  has  no 
thought  of  this  preliminary  work ;  he  is  in  haste  to  see  his  trees 
fruiting  and  finds  budded  stock  at  hand  offered  by  nurserymen 
upon  whom  he  can  depend  to  give  him  buds  true  to  name  and 
free  from  disease  and  insects — trees  that  are  neither  forced  nor 
stunted,  strictly  first  class  nursery  stock.  That  is,  he  can  get 
such  trees  by  paying  their  market  value.  There  are  always  trees 
that  are  "oft"  quality,"  old  and  stunted,  weaklings,  ill-shaped 
specimens,  etc.,  that  can  be  bought  "cheap,"  but  he  who  buys 
them  pays  dearly  for  his  bargain  before  they  come  to  bearing. 

Stock. — The  sour  orange  stock  has  proved  itself  best  adapted 
to  all  kinds  of  soil  and  most  resistant  to  diseases.  It  is  almost 
immune  to  foot  rot  so  prevalent  on  sweet  orange  or  rough  lemon 
stock.  Grapefruit  stock  promises  well  and  is  highly  favored  by 


14  WILSON  &  TOOMER  FERTILIZER  COMPANY 

many,  but  it  has  not  been  so  thoroughly  tested  as  the  sour 
orange.  It  roots  extremely  deep  and  is  best  suited  to  our  higher 
lands.  So  far  there  has  not  been  shown  to  be  any  difference 
between  grapefruit  and  sour  orange  stock  as  to  vigor  of  tree 
or  quality  of  fruit. 

Size. — There  is  a  difference  in  opinion  as  to  the  best  age  of 
trees  set.  To  the  investor  who  has  plenty  of  capital,  it  is  a  great 
temptation  to  pay  a  higher  price  and  get  a  nice,  big  tree  with 
a  two-year-old  bud,  but  it  has  been  the  experience  of  the  greater 
number  that  a  two  or  three-year-old  stock  with  a  one-year-old 
bud  stands  transplanting  better  than  the  older  tree,  and  when 
put  side  by  side  will  be  larger  and  thriftier  two  years  after 
setting. 

Nursery  stock  should  be  neither  forced  nor  stunted,  and 
should  be  grown  on  a  lighter,  drier  soil  than  in  the  proposed 
grove  rather  than  on  heavier,  wetter  land. 

When  to  Set  Trees. — The  best  time  to  set  trees  is  from  the 
middle  of  November  to  the  middle  of  February,  though  with 
proper  handling,  it  is  safe  to  move  an  orange  tree  at  almost 
any  time.  Trees  must  be  kept  damp  from  the  taking  up  until 
they  are  set  in  the  ground.  Many  a  tree  gets  its  death  stroke 
between  the  nursery  and  the  grove,  though  it  may  struggle  along 
some  months  before  it  finally  succumbs. 

Pruning. — Do  not  make  the  mistake  of  trying  to  keep  too 
much  top.  The  top  should  be  cut  off  about  one-and-a-half  or 
two  feet  above  the  ground.  The  roots  should  be  cut  to  about  a 
foot  in  length,  with  the  tap  root  about  one-and-a-half  feet.  The 
ends  should  be  cut  smooth,  not  broken  or  crushed. 

Distance. — There  are  many  opinions  in  regard  to  what  is 
the  most  profitable  space  for  a  tree.  Our  personal  preference 
is  to  have  orange  trees  twenty-five  feet  apart  in  rows  thirty 
feet  wide.  When  well  grown  the  branches  will  meet  in  the  rows, 
but  a  team  can  pass  between  the  rows.  For  economy  and 
effectiveness  of  labor,  it  is  necessary  to  use  teams,  which  would 


IDEAL  FERTILIZERS  15 

be  impossible  in  groves  set  much  closer  than  this.  The  closely 
set  groves  yield  a  much  greater  income  the  first  few  years  at 
least.  Their  advocates  say  they  continue  to  do  so,  but  all  the 
owners  of  old  closely  set  groves  we  have  seen  wish  they  had 
more  space.  Many  prospective  growers  have  it  figured  out  on 
paper  that  they  could  afford  to  cut  down  every  other  tree  when 
the  grove  is  eight  or  ten  years  old,  but  unfortunately,  the  profits 
on  citrus  culture  show  to  just  the  same  advantage  on  paper  as 
compared  with  real  practice  as  do  the  profits  on  any  other  kind 
of  business.  The  man  who  said  "figures  don't  lie"  never  figured 
out  any  financial  proposition  dependent  upon  labor  and  climatic 
conditions,  and  then  tried  to  make  actual  practice  match  his 
figures. 

Final  Preparation. — Low  ground  should  be  plowed  into  beds 
the  width  of  the  rows  before  setting  the  stakes  to  mark  places 
for  the  trees.  Shallow  cultivation  should  immediately  follow 
the  plowing  and  be  repeated  after  every  rain.  The  land  should 
be  left  to  settle  at  least  a  month  before  planting.  If  some 
hard  rains  come,  so  much  the  better.  Care  should  be  taken  to 
set  the  stakes  exact,  in  straight  rows  and  equal  distance  apart. 
Around  each  stake  spread  a  peck  of  hardwood  ashes.  When 
the  hole  is  dug  the  ashes  will  become  thoroughly  mixed  with 
the  soil. 

Holes. — Pull  the  dirt  from  around  the  stake  with  a  hoe, 
leaving  the  ground  in  the  shape  of  an  inverted  saucer,  the 
bottom  edge  being  about  a  foot  deep.  Drive  a  stake  in  the 
ground  to  make  a  hole  for  the  tap  root. 

Setting  the  Trees. — Place  the  tree  in  the  hole  and  spread 
the  roots  evenly.  If  a  root  is  longer  than  the  width  of  the 
hole  allows,  do  not  pinch  off  the  end  or  turn  it  to  one  side,  as  so 
many  do,  but  dig  out  a  place  for  it  to  extend  full  length  in  a 
natural  position.  Set  the  tree  an  inch  higher  than  it  was  in 
the  nursery  as  it  will  settle  some,  and  a  tree  set  too  low  never 
prospers.  Pull  part  of  the  dirt  over  the  roots  and  pour  in  a 


16  WILSON  &  TOOMER  FERTILIZER  COMPANY 

bucket  of  water,  holding  the  bucket  at  least  two  feet  above  the 
ground  so  the  water  will  fall  with  force.  Pull  more  dirt  around 
the  trees  and  pack  tightly,  mounding  up  a  little  in  the  shape 
of  a  saucer.  Pour  on  another  bucket  of  water  and  then  mulch 
with  dry  dirt  to  prevent  evaporation.  There  should  be  no  delay 
in  the  work  from  the  time  the  dirt  is  first  disturbed  until  the 
mulching  is  in  place,  thus  preserving  the  natural  moisture  of 
the  soil. 

Care. — The  trees  will  need  no  further  attention  for  several 
weeks  unless  the  season  is  especially  dry,  in  which  case  water 
should  be  given  very  sparingly  until  the  rains  come.  The  dry 
mulch  should  be  replaced  each  time  the  trees  are  watered.  Too 
much  water  will  cause  the  soil  to  sour  and  give  the  trees  a 
serious  setback. 

Fertilizer. — It  will  be  noted  that  we  advise  no  fertilizer 
at  the  time  of  planting.  About  the  first  of  February  give  each 
tree  a  pound  of  our  W.  &  T.'s  Special  Mixture  No.  1  or  Seminole 
Tree  Grower  or  Special  Peruvian  Grower  or  Peruvian  Orange 
Tree  Grower,  spreading  it  in  a  circle  around,  but  not  too  close 
to  the  tree,  and  hoeing  or  raking  it  in.  A  little  later  plant 
cowpeas  in  the  middles  to  be  used  as  described  in  Chapter  II. 

In  June  and  September  two  more  applications  of  one  pound 
of  fertilizer  can  be  made.  The  second  year  the  trees  should  use 
two  pounds  of  fertilizer  at  each  application,  and  the  third  year 
three  pounds.  After  this  the  amount  can  be  rapidly  increased 
if  the  trees  are  doing  well,  for  the  fourth  year  should  find  them 
commencing  to  bear  fruit. 

Training. — Generally  speaking,  the  citrus  tree  knows  better 
how  it  wants  to  grow  than  does  the  one  who  interferes  with  its 
development.  It  does  not  hurt  it  to  bear  fruit  young,  as  is  the 
case  with  many  other  fruit  trees.  All  sprouts  below  the  bud 
should  be  rubbed  off,  but  the  sprouts  above  the  bud  should  be 
left  unless  they  seem  especially  crowded,  in  which  case  it  will 
be  best  to  pinch  off  the  tops  of  some  of  the  shoots.  After  the 


IDEAL  FERTILIZERS  17 

trees  get  well  started  they  may  need  "shaping  up"  a  little  but 
no  extensive  pruning  should  be  done.  Dead  wood  is  a  great 
source  of  infection;  if  any  occurs  it  should  be  removed,  the 
cut  being  made  back  to  an  elbow  and  left  a  smooth  slant. 

Cultivation. — Young  trees  should  be  hoed  deep,  so  as  to 
make  the  roots  strike  down.  The  middles  can  be  plowed  in 
spring.  Cultivation  should  be  kept  up  all  through  the  dry 
season  to  conserve  moisture.  When  the  summer  rains  commence 
the  ground  should  be  covered  either  with  natural  growth  of 
grass  or  weeds  or  a  planted  cover  crop.  Our  personal  choice  of 
cover  crops  would  be  cowpeas.  This  growth  must  not  be  allowed 
to  "smother"  the  roots  of  trees.  There  should  be  a  heavy  mulch 
of  dead  vegetation  for  at  least  three  feet  from  the  trunk.  This 
mulch  must  not  touch  the  trunk  of  the  tree  or  wood  lice  will 
be  likely  to  nest  there.  When  the  weather  gets  cool  the  mulch- 
ing should  be  drawn  away  to  allow  all  the  warmth  possible  to 
reach  the  young  roots.  The  cover  crop  can  either  be  allowed 
to  die  down  naturally  as  the  season  is  over  or  be  mowed  and 
left  broadcast  to  be  disked  in  before  next  plowing.  Never  work 
the  soil  when  saturated  with  water  or  during  the  heat  of  summer, 
and  never  plow  in  green  vegetation.  These  are  three  causes 
for  acid  soils. 

It  is  a  mistake  to  try  to  "garden"  in  a  young  grove.  Give 
the  land  over  to  the  interest  of  your  trees  entirely  if  you  would 
have  them  prosper,  and  if  you  wish  to  garden,  take  other  land. 
Tt  will  pay  you  in  the  end. 


18  WILSON  &  TOOME1I   FERTILIZER   COMPANY 


CHAPTER  V. 
Culture 

Now  we  have  our  grove  fairly  started  and  are  face  to  face 
with  the  problem  of  cultivation.  In  our  first  chapter  we  spoke 
of  a  tree  having  certain  needs.  Cultivation  is  in  a  great  measure 
the  means  by  which  we  are  to  supply  those  needs,  so  to  under- 
stand the  matter  thoroughly  let  us  give  brief  attention  to  general 
conditions  underground,  for  successful  cultivation  is  not  a  mere 
stirring  of  the  soil.  It  is  the  bringing  of  Nature's  forces  to 
work  for  our  benefit. 

Our  first  need  is  to  examine  the  tree,  after  which  we  can 
better  understand  its  relation  to  the  soil.  One  of  our  workers 
read  a  paper  on  plant  life  before  the  State  Horticultural  Society, 
at  Orlando,  May,  1910.  which  was  so  heartily  received  by  the 
leading  scientists  and  horticulturists  of  the  State  that  we  feel 
we  can  do  no  better  than  to  quote  from  it  in  this  instance,  and 
also  in  the  chapter  on  fertilizers  in  regard  to  the  effect  of  differ- 
ent materials : 

"Whether  tree  or  vegetable,  the  process  of  growing  is  prac- 
tically the  same.  There  are  three  distinct  parts — the  roots,  the 
stem  and  the  foliage.  Different  vegetations  have  different  root 
systems,  but.  all  are  alike  in  that  there  is  no  real  opening  into 
the  roots,  therefore  all  nourishment  must  be  taken  in  liquid 
form;  also  in  that  it  is  only  near  the  tips  of  the  rootlets  that 
the  absorption  of  liuids — osmosis,  it  is  called — can  take  place. 

"The  extreme  tip  of  a  rootlet  is  protected  by  a  hard  cap, 
that  it  may  push  its  way  through  the  soil,  while  its  'feeding' 
section  is  often  covered  with  hair-like  protuberances,  multiply- 
ing the  surface  many  times.  These  tiny  rootlets  also  give  off 


IDEAL   FERTILIZERS  19 

certain  acids  which  render  soluble  much  plant  food  that  cannot 
be  dissolved  by  water  alone. 

"It  is  a  root's  nature  to  avoid  light  and  to  seek  moisture.  It 
will  go  in  the  line  of  the  least  resistance,  growing  around  ob- 
structions, and  wherever  a  good  feeding  ground  is  found  rootlets 
are  formed  rapidly,  giving  full  service  to  the  plant  which  they 
support.  If,  however,  the  environment  is  not  congenial,  rootlets 
wither  and  die,  and  the  plant  receives  no  nourishment  from  that 
portion  of  its  root  system.  Roots  demand  a  proper  supply  of  both 
air  and  water.  To  supply  this  demand  the  grower  must  cultivate 
his  soil  properly.  Lumpy  soil  is  bad  for  several  reasons.  The 
hard  lumps  act  as  obstructions,  wasting  the  energy  ot  the  roots 
as  they  grow  around  them  and  check  capillary  action  by  the 
large  spaces  between  them.  The  excess  of  air  in  these  spaces 
rapidly  dries  out  any  moisture  that  the  rains  may  give  such  soil, 
so  that  often  the  rootlets  die  in  the  attempt  to  encompass  such 
obstructions.  Plants  must  have  water,  not  only  for  itself, 
but  as  a  vehicle  of  food.  The  ability  to  hold  moisture  decides  to 
a  great  degree  the  productiveness  of  a  soil.  Fine  particles  of 
soil  not  only  increase  capillary  action  by  which  underground 
water  is  brought  to  the  plant's  service,  but  they  present  much 
greater  surface  to  retain  the  rain  water  and  to  be  acted  upon 
by  dissolvent  forces.  We  all  know  how  much  more  readily  a 
lump  of  sugar  dissolves  when  crushed,  and  in  the  same  way  all 
other  things  yield  to  dissolution  according  to  the  surface  exposed 
to  attack.  Soil  should  hold  water  in  a  film  around  each  particle 
— as  seen  on  an  orange  that  has  just  been  dipped  in  water — and 
this  is  all  it  will  retain  when  there  is  a  chance  for  the  water  to 
pass  off.  If  there  is  a  lack  of  drainage  so  water  fills  the  spaces 
between  these  particles,  there  is  no  room  for  air,  and  therefore 
the  supply  of  oxygen  necessary  to  our  friendly  bacteria  is  shut 
off  and  trouble  begins. 

"We  must  not  look  upon  the  earth  as  an  inert  mass.  A  fer- 
tile soil  is  alive  with  bacteria.  Bacteria  are  the  lowest  form  of 


20  WILSON  &  TOOMER  FERTILIZER  COMPANY 

vegetable  life — tiny  one-celled  plants — but  their  influence  for 
good  or  ill  is  incalculable.  We,  who  are  working  the  soil,  are 
more  especially  interested  in  nitrifying  bacteria  which  are  essen- 
tial in  changing  nitrogen  to  nitric  acid,  or  in  other  words,  making 
the  element,  nitrogen,  available  for  plant  food.  These  bac- 
teria can  thrive  only  where  there  are  the  right  degrees  of  mois- 
ture and  heat,  and  freedom  from  acid  conditions ;  hence,  another 
great  value  in  perfect  tilth  and  proper  drainage.  On  the  other 
hand,  where  excessive  moisture  and  acidity  exist,  the  denitrify- 
ing bacteria  thrive.  These  tiny  plants  take  oxygen  from  seem- 
ingly every  combination  found,  but  their  work  is  especially 
noticeable  where,  by  the  breaking  up  of  these  combinations,  it 
sets  the  element  nitrogen  free  and  thus  allows  it  to  escape  from 
the  soil.  Thus  poor  tilth  and  drainage  not  only  prevent  an  in- 
crease of  fertility  but  cause  actual  loss  of  the  most  valuable 
plant  food  the  soil  contains. 

"We  have  dwelt  in  particular  upon  the  desirability  of  having 
fine  soil  particles,  but  it  is  possible  to  have  soil  too  fine  to  give 
best  results.  This  is  sometimes  the  case  in  clay  lands  and  is 
particularly  true  in  "puddled"  soil,  for  "puddling"  the  soil  is 
done  by  disturbing  it  when  there  is  so  much  water  present  as  to 
allow  the  soil  grains  to  move  freely  about  and  become  placed  in 
the  most. compact  position.  This  prevents  proper  circulation  of 
air  and  often  causes  so  much  trouble  from  the  effects  on  bacterial 
conditions  and  the  general  texture  of  the  soil  that  it  will  take 
two  or  three  years  to  overcome  the  results  of  a  few  hours  ill- 
advised  cultivation. 

"There  has  been  so  much  agitation  about  the  necessity  of 
supplying  humus  to  the  land  that  every  grower  recognizes  the 
value  of  humus,  though  often  he  is  rather  bewildered  as  to  the 
reasons  therefor.  Hunius  is  plant  food  to  be  sure,  but  that  is  its 
least  value.  It  retains  moisture  and  with  it  the  plant  food  this 
moisture  contains.  It  is  said  that  a  soil  well-filled  with  humus 
will  hold  eight  times  as  much  water  as  one  entirely  lacking  this 


IDEAL  FERTILIZERS  21 

valuable  constituent.  Humus  is  a  most  congenial  dwelling  place 
and  also  a  food  for  nitrifying  bacteria,  therefore,  causes  great 
multiplication  of  these  useful  organisms.  Humus  also  does  much 
good  by  improving  the  texture  of  the  soil.  When  the  land  is 
sandy  and  too  open,  the  finer  particles  of  humus  help  to  correct 
that  condition ;  and  the  humus  is  coarser  than  the  soil  particles  of 
clay,  so  it  opens  up  such  land  to  freer  circulation  of  air  and  all 
the  accompanying  benefits.  One  can  hardly  over-estimate  the 
value  of  humus,  but  still  he  must  realize  that  its  greatest  value 
comes  through  the  retention  of  plant-food-ladened  soil  water, 
which  otherwise  would  carry  its  precious  burden  onward  to  the 
drains. 

"When  the  vegetation  which  produces  this  humus  is  grown 
on  the  ground  over  summer  the  fresh  green  blanket  protects  the 
soil  from  the  excessive  heat  of  the  sun  and  thereby  removes  a 
great  factor  in  the  creation  of  acid  conditions.  However,  the 
grower  should  never  turn  under  this  green  vegetation  or  its 
fermentation  will  cause  it  to  be  a  source  of  great  harm  instead 
of  benefit.  It  should  be  dead  and  dry  before  being  incorporated 
with  the  soil. 

"Land  should  be  thoroughly  prepared  before  planting  any 
kind  of  crop,  whether  it  be  grove  or  garden,  and  thereafter 
worked  with  due  care  for  the  roots.  It  is  not  consistent  to  strive 
to  create  a  root  system  to  feed  trees  or  plants  and  then  deliber- 
ately impair  that  system  to  such  an  extent  as  to  reduce  its 
strength  from  25  to  50  per  cent ;  yet  that  is  what  many  a  grower 
does  time  and  again.  During  proper  seasons  land  should  be 
given  shallow  cultivation  to  conserve  moisture  by  creating  a 
dust  mulch  and  to  avoid  a  crusting  over  which  shuts  off  the 
circulation  of  air,  but  this  cultivation  should  never  disturb  the 
plant's  roots." 

Thus,  we  find  the  whole  secret  in  good  cultivation  is  to  sup- 
ply a  proper  amount  of  air  and  water  and  congenial  bacterial 
conditions.  It  sounds  simple  enough,  but  to  accomplish  it  re- 


22  WILSON  &  TOOMER  FERTILIZER  COMPANY 

quires  rare  judgment.  If  the  worker  could  see  the  damage  he 
so  often  does  when  he  is  striving  to  benefit  his  trees,  it  would 
be  a  revelation.  The  general  principles  are  all  included  in  the 
above  quotation,  and  each  one  must  take  such  means  as  are 
necessary  to  bring  abxmt  the  right  conditions  on  his  land. 

Some  land  needs  shallow  plowing,  some  deeper,  other  land 
needs  no  plowing  at  all.  The  cut-a-way  harrow  is  the  right  im- 
plement to  use  in  many  groves,  while  still  others  are  better  off 
never  to  disturb  the  ground  outside  a  wide  circle  around  each 
tree,  which  should  be  hoed  three  times  a  year  and  covered  with 
heavy  mulch.  The  natural  grass  is  allowed  to  grow,  being  cut 
from  time  to  time  with  a  mowing  machine  and  left  on  the  ground. 
These  groves  are  on  damp  ground,  and  often  despite  good  ditches 
would  be  too  wet  through  the  rainy  season  were  it  not  for  the  great 
amount  of  moisture  used  by  this  heavy  growth  of  grass.  Some 
people  have  said  they  did  not  want  to  fertilize  grass  and  weeds, 
that  fertilizing  the  trees  was  all  they  could  afford.  So  long  as 
no  growth  is  removed  from  the  land  they  get  full  benefit  of  all 
fertilizer  applied,  for  the  plant  food  lost  in  the  energy  of  grow- 
ing the  grass  is  more  than  balanced  by  that  saved  from  leaching 
away  in  the  drainage.  On  lands  only  fairly  well  watered  clean 
cultivation  through  the  spring  months  is  almost  imperative  for 
the  purpose  of  conserving  moisture.  By  this  method  one  can  make 
a  difference  in  the  water  content  equal  to  several  inches  of  rain- 
fall. He  also  can  culthate  so  as  to  increase  the  evaporation  and 
make  the  land  drier  than  ever.  To  conserve  moisture  the  ground 
should  be  stirred  only  on  the  surface  and  left  as  smooth  as 
possible.  This  should  be  done  every  few  days  and  is  especially 
necessary  soon  after  a  rain.  Often  in  the  case  of  a  light 
shower  the  surface  is  barely  moistened  enough  to  touch  the 
moisture  below,  and  far  more  water  will  evaporate  through  this 
connection  than  has  fallen  unless  prompt  action  is  taken.  On 
dry,  sandy  lands  it  is  better  to  plant  cowpeas  or  a  similar  cover 
crop  over  summer,  for  the  native  growth  is  not  likely  to  be 


IDEAL  FERTILIZERS  23 

heavy  enough  and  of  the  right  kind  to  give  the  best  i-esults. 
Such  lands  can  be  made  quite  fertile  in  a  few  years  by  careful 
attention  to  the  humus  content,  while  lands  that  are  too  close 
and  heavy  to  give  the  best  results  can  be  made  more  open  and 
friable  in  the  same  way. 

We  are  now  ready  to  close  this  chapter,  but  it  is  not  com- 
plete without  mention  of  the  "clean  culture"  method.  All  we 
can  say  about  this  is  that  in  a  few — a  very  few — of  the  best 
groves  in  the  State  we  find  clean  culture.  This  fact  cannot 
be  disputed,  Imt  the  land  was  very  rich  at  first  and  has  had 
immense  quantities  of  fertilizer  applied;  still,  Nature's  provision 
does  not  last  indefinitely,  and  chemicals  cannot  fill  the  place  of 
humus,  so  each  year  sees  fewer  "clean  culture"  groves.  One 
may  as  well  hope  to  draw  money  from  the  bank  continually 
without  making  deposits  as  to  hope  to  remove  crops  of  any 
kind  year  after  year  without  making  a  return  of  the  most  im- 
portant constituent  of  the  soil. 


24  WILSON  &  TOOMER  FERTILIZER  COMPANY 


CHAPTER  IV. 
Fertilizer 

"The  plant  needs  in  its  construction  ten  different  elements, 
but  Nature  makes  a  bountiful  provision  for  all  except  nitrogen, 
phosphorus,  potash,  and  sometimes  calcium,  so  we  need  to  study 
only  these  which  we  have  occasion  to  supply.  Chemistry  teaches 
us  that  plant  food  is  plant  food  wherever  found,  but  practical 
experience  teaches  us  that  the  form  and  surroundings  of  that 
plant  food  have  great  influence  on  its  effect. 

"In  all  animal  substances  as  well  as  in  vegetable  matter, 
the  breaking  down  of  existing  combinations  which  we  call  decay 
creates  more  or  less  acidity  according  to  the  condition  and  sur- 
roundings of  these  substances.  If  there  is  an  abundant  supply 
of  air,  enough  but  not  too  much  moisture,  and  the  temperature 
is  neither  too  high  nor  too  low,  nitrates  are  formed  from  the 
nitrogen  and  the  humus  contained  in  the  vegetable  or  animal 
matter  is  a  valuable  addition  to  the  land.  So,  under  right  con- 
ditions, organic  sources  of  plant  food,  though  the  slowest  of  all 
ammoniates,  are  desirable  except  for  the  citrus  family.  But  if 
the  weather  be  cold  or  the  soil  lacking  in  moisture,  the  decay  is 
so  slow  as  to  be  scarcely  perceptible,  while  if  there  is  an  excess 
of  water,  deleterious  compounds  are  formed  in  place  of  nitrates, 
and  instead  of  plant  food  we  have  plant  poison.  This  latter  con- 
dition readily  arises  under  the  combined  influences  of  the  sum- 
mer's heat  and  heavy  rains. 

"We  have  noted  the  needed  presence  of  certain  bacteria  to 
transform  the  element  nitrogen  to  plant  food.  Their  work  is  to 
combine  oxygen  with  nitrogen  to  make  nitric  acid.  After  they 
have  done  this,  it  is  most  important  that  there  be  at  hand  a 


g-HO 

btfi  IK 

2  "~B. 
l'5o 


£« 


IDEAL  FERTILIZERS  25 

bountiful  supply  of  base  to  unite  with  this  nitric  acid  and  form 
nitrates,  and  to  neutralize  not  only  the  nitric  acid  but  all  other 
acids.  If  base  is  lacking  it  must  be  supplied  before  good  results 
can  be  obtained,  and  it  is  at  such  times  that  we  need  a  knowl- 
edge of  the  different  forms  of  calcium.  The  form  generally  pre- 
ferred is  the  carbonate  of  lime  found  in  ashes,  air-slaked  lime, 
and  crushed  limestone,  but  the  hydrated  and  the  "quick"  or 
caustic  lime,  have  their  places. 

"The  chemical  nitrates  are  the  quickest  acting  sources  of 
ammonia  that  we  can  apply,  as  they  are  ready  for  the  plant's 
use  as  soon  as  dissolved  and  so  deliquescent  that  they  invariably 
find  enough  moisture  to  dissolve  them,  therefore  they  are  most 
valuable  to  start  a  quick  growth,  especially  in  a  dry  season.  The 
great  drawback  to  their  use  for  a  full  supply  of  nitrogen  is  the 
waste  that  is  bound  to  occur  when  rains  come  before  the  plant 
has  used  it  all.  Nitrate  of  soda  and  nitrate  of  potash  are  our 
general  sources  of  this  form  of  plant  food  at  the  present  time, 
though  calcium  nitrate  is  knocking  at  the  door  of  the  fertilizer 
market.  The  nitrate  in  each  of  these  materials  is  in  exactly  the 
same  form.  The  soda  in  one  and  the  lime  in  another  tending  to 
sweeten  the  soil,  while  the  potash  in  the  nitrate  of  potash  is  the 
straight  K2O  plant  food. 

Another  chemical  used  is  sulphate  of  ammonia  which  in  its 
action  is  slower  than  the  nitrates  but  quicker  than  organic  mat- 
ter, even  when  favorable  conditions  surround  the  latter.  It  also 
is  surer  in  its  action  and  free  from  the  disagreeable  features 
attending  the  change  of  organic  nitrogen  to  ammonia.  The 
continued  use  of  this  chemical  will  call  for  an  application  of 
lime,  as  its  chemical  reactions  in  the  soil  cause  loss  of  lime,  but 
this  is  a  small  drawback  in  comparison  with  its  incalculable 
value,  especially  to  the  citrus  grower. 

"Much  attention  has  been  given  to  the  effects  these  varying 
sources  have  upon  plant  life.  -Generally  speaking,  the  citrus  tree 
demands  chemical  sources,  the  pineapple,  organic  sources,  while 


26  WILSON  &  TOOMER   FERTILIZER  COMPANY 

the  garden  products  need  the  different  sources  in  well-balanced 
proportions.    These  sources  are  all  classed  as  ainmomates. 

"Now  we  come  to  the  essential  termed  'phosphoric  acid' — 
anothex-  misnomer — for  there  is  no  real  acid  in  any  properly 
prepared  fertilizer.  All  chemical  fertilizers  are  in  the  form  of 
salts.  A  salt,  as  explained  in  last  years  paper,  is  the  result 
of  an  acid  being  destroyed  by  a  base  displacing  the  hydrogen. 
In  nitrate  of  soda,  sodium  has  driven  out  the  hydrogen,  while  in 
nitrate  of  potash,  hydrogen  has  been  exchanged  for  potash.  In 
the  flrst,  the  plant  extracts  the  nitrogen  from  the  radicle  of  the 
acid,  while  in  the  last  it  takes  food  from  both  radicle  and  base.  In 
sulphate  of  ammonia,  it  is  the  base  we  think  about  as  furnishing 
plant  food  after  the  necessary  nitrifying  process,  though  both 
isulphur  and  oxygen  are  essential  to  the  plant's  development.  In 
the  sulphates  of  potash  it  is  also  the  base  that  is  bought  for  food. 
The  ammonia  in  sulphate  of  ammonia  and  the  potash  in  the 
sulphates  of  potash  are  combined  with  the  radicle  of  sulphuric 
acid — exactly  the  same  part  of  sulphuric  acid  that  exists  in 
sulphate  of  lime  and  every  other  sulphate — just  the  sulphur  and 
oxygen.  There  is  no  possibility  of  reaction  taking  place,  for  the 
hydrogen  has  been  defeated  in  a  fair  fight.  The  base  has  stronger 
attractions  or  it  could  not  have  displaced  it.  It  is  on  this  principle 
of  a  fair  fight  and  no  favor  that  our  phosphoric  acid  is  made 
available  for  use.  The  radicle  of  phosphoric  acid  is  the  form  from 
which  the  plant  gets  its  phosphorus,  but  in  the  natural  state  this 
radicle  is  in  such  close  combination  with  lime  that  neither  water 
nor  the  exudations  from  the  plant  roots  can  do  much  in  the  way 
of  breaking  the  chemical  forces;  but,  fortunately  for  the  grower, 
the  chemist's  skill  can  overcome  this  difficulty  and  we  have 
either  dissolved  bone  or  superphosphate  to  apply  to  our  fields, 
knowing  that  in  both  ingredients  we  have  a  mono-calcium  phos- 
phate and  a  sulphate  of  lime.  The  same  form  of  plant  food  is  in 
each,  but  it  is  accompanied  by  a  little  more  sulphate  of  lime  in  the 
superphosphate  than  in  the  dissolved  bone.  This  sulphate  of  lime 


IDEAL  FERTILIZERS  27 

is  really  no  plant  food,  but  it  has  a  wonderful  influence  on  the 
crops  because  of  the  chemical  changes  caused  by  its  presence  in  the 
soil,  through  which  much  latent  plant  food  becomes  available. 
Such  an  agent  is  termed  a  'catalyzer,'  and  it  is  now  generally 
recognized  that  phosphoric  acid  is  also  a  great  catalyzer,  and 
that  it  well  pays  to  apply  far  more  than  is  actually  needed  by 
the  plant,  because  of  this  quality.  Another  effect  of  a  large  phos- 
phoric acid  content  is  a  tendency  to  hasten  maturity.  This  is  a 
detriment  in  the  raising  of  some  crops,  beans  and  celery,  for 
instance,  but  the  citrus  grower  who  wishes  to  avail  himself  of 
the  advantages  of  an  early  market  finds  this  fact  of  great  value. 

"Basic  slag  is  another  source  of  phosphoric  acid.  It  is  very 
slow  acting  and  its  value  is  still  undetermined. 

"Peruvian  guano  is  called  a  phosphatic  fertilizer,  b-ut  con- 
tains some  of  all  four  essentials.  Though  of  organic  origin,  it 
cannot  be  classed  as  an  organic  fertilizer,  really,  for  its  condition 
is  such  that  although  it  has  all  the  virtue  of  organic  matter  it 
has  none  of  the  evils,  therefore  it  can  be  used  in  citrus  culture. 
Indeed,  under  some  circumstances  and  when  reinforced  with  the 
correct  proportions  of  the  proper  chemicals,  it  stands  pre-eminent. 

"We  have"  given  considerable  force  to  the  word  available 
because  in  both  ammoniates  and  phosphatic  goods  the  'plant  food' 
is  so  likely  to  be  useless  to  the  plant.  When  there  is  an  abund- 
ance of  unavailable  plant  food  in  even  the  poorest  soils,  why  add 
more?  The  value  in  applied  fertilizer  is  in  its  quick  results.  If 
we  have  to  wait  until  the  next  year  or  the  next  generation  to  get 
returns  for  the  money  invested  this  year  we  are  losing  the  use 
of  our  money,  for  there  is  only  the  plant  food  we  have  paid  for  and 
the  longer  it  stays  in  the  soil  the  longer  our  -money  is  locked  up. 
Some  people  have  expatiated  upon  the  effects  shown  in  after 
years.  A  certain  amount  of  plant  food  will  produce  only  certain 
results  and  the  longer  it  takes  for  it  to  produce  these  results,  the 
more  time  there  is  for  wastes  through  drainage,  etc.  A  grower 
should  build  up  the  texture  of  his  soil  by  proper  tillage  and  the 


28  WILSON  &  TOOMER  FERTILIZER  COMPANY 

addition  of  humus,  but  Nature  has  forestalled  him  in  furnishing 
unavailable  plant  foods. 

"All  our  potashes  are  water  soluble  and  in  the  same  form 
whether  from  organic  sources,  ashes,  or  from  the  different  potash 
salts — nitrate,  sulphates,  muriate  or  kaiiiit.  They  differ  only  as 
to  their  surroundings.  The  organic  source  used  is  pulverized 
tobacco  stems  and  the  one  drawback  is  the  extreme  high  cost. 
This  precludes  its  general  use.  The  potash  in  ashes  also  costs 
so  high  that  ashes  are  invariably  bought  because  of  other  quali- 
ties and  not  for  their  potash  content.  We  have  already  taken  up 
nitrate  of  potash  under  the  nitrates,  and  dealt  with  sulphate  of 
potash  under  our  talk  about  acids.  We  would  mention,  however, 
that  the  low  grade  sulphate  of  potash  contains  a  large  percentage 
of  sulphate  of  magnesia  and  is  liked  by  the  citrus  grower  because 
this  magnesia  acts  readily  as  a  base  inducing  chemical  reactions 
which  bring  latent  plant  food  into  availability.  Muriate  of  potash 
is  the  richest  of  the  potash  salts,  but  because  of  its  chlorine 
content  cannot  be  used  on  certain  crops.  It  is  especially  un- 
desirable for  citrus  trees  and  tobacco.  Kainit  has  even  more 
chlorine,  part  of  which  is  in  combination  with  sodium,  making 
about  one-third  of  kainit  our  ordinary  salt.  This  is  quite  effective 
in  vegetable  raising  for  driving  away  insects  and  preventing  some 
diseases,  but  for  many  crops  would  need  to  be  applied  at  least  a 
month  before  planting  or  it  would  'burn'  the  plants. 

"Thus  we  have  much  to  think  about  when  trying  to  supply 
food  to  vegetation — just  what  sources— just  what  proportion  each 
of  the  different  forms  of  ammonia  used  should  make  of  the  whole 
ammonia  content,  that  there  be  no  lack,  no  waste — just  how 
much  phosphoric  acid  and  potash  to  put  with  this  ammonia  to 
give  exact  balance  to  this  particular  crop.  It  is  a  long,  long 
lesson  and  one  that  must  be  worked  out  in  the  field.  But  when 
it  comes  to  mixing  these  ingredients,  how  many  times  does  the 
lack  of  chemical  knowledge  cause  great  loss?  I  know,  person- 
ally, one  prominent  gardener  who  mixes  ashes  with  his  fertilizer 


IDEAL  FERTILIZERS  29 

and  chuckles  as  he  smells  the  escaping  ammonia,  because  the 
mixture  is  so  strong.  It  has  often  seemed  to  me  that  one  of  the 
wisest  sayings  I  have  ever  heard  in  regard  to  home  mixing  of 
fertilizer  was:  'The  man  who  knows  enough  to  mix  his  fertilizer, 
generally  knows  enough  not  to.'  " 

A  careful  study  of  the  above  quotation  (see  Chapter  V.)  will 
give  one  a  very  clear  idea  of  the  action  of  the  different  materials 
from  which  fertilizer  formulas  are  made.  Every  grower  should 
thoroughly  understand  these  points  that  he  may  select  formulas 
suited  to  his  purpose.  Pie  cannot,  though,  reasonably  hope  to  be 
able  to  construct  a  formula  off-hand  superior  to  those  which  have 
been  developed  through  years  of  grove  work  shared  by  many 
experienced  growers  throughout  the  State.  Ideal  formulas  have 
all  been  created  in  this  way.  It  is  a  mistaken  idea  for  a  grower  to 
hold  that  all  fertilizer  men  figure  out  some  combination  of  chem- 
icals on  paper,  really  knowing  nothing  of  the  practical  end. 
Nearly  all  the  leading  workers  in  our  staff  have  owned  groves 
for  years  and  have  had  all  the  ups  and  downs  of  a  grove-maker's 
life,  just  the  same  as  other  growers,  and  hold  their  present 
positions  because  they  are  successful.  In  their  travels  through 
the  State  they  have  had  a  chance  to  profit  by  -the  experiences  of 
many  others.  AVe  feel  that  they  have  had  rather  exceptional  ad- 
vantages and  have  benefited  by  them.  However,  we  by  no  means 
limit  ourselves  to  home  talent.  We  gather  information  from  every 
possible  source  and  are  constantly  working  in  co-operation  writh 
many  leading  growers.  Some  of  our  formulas  are  due  entirely 
to  our  friends,  while  many  have  reached  perfection  through  their 
assistance. 

In  fact,  while  we  give  analysis  full  consideration  and  ever 
seek  to  have  our  formulas  supply  all  of  each  plant  food  the  tree 
can  use  to  advantage,  and  at  the  same  time  to  give  no  excess  to 
unbalance  the  proportions,  causing  at  least  waste  of  money,  if 
not  actual  damage  to  the  tree,  we  realize  that  source  of  plant 
food  is  fully  as  important  as  analysis.  Nothing  tmt  high-grade 


30  WILSON  &  TOOMER  FERTILIZER  COMPANY 

materials  go  into  our  citrus  fertilizers — no  kainit,  muriate  of 
potash,  or  fish  scrap — but  eren  among  the  high-grade  sources 
there  is  a  great  difference  in  effects  and  each  has  its  place 
depending  on  the  kind  of  soil  and  the  result  desired.  When  a 
formula  meets  these  demands  we  feel  it  deserves  the  name  Ideal 
and  place  it  on  our  regular  list. 

In  the  list  of  Ideal  formulas  you  will  find  something  to  suit 
your  conditions,  with  the  price  based  on  the  actual  market  value 
of  its  ingredients.  There  is  no  charge  for  the  knowledge  nec- 
essary to  turn  out  such  a  perfect  product.  If  you  are  in  doubt 
as  to  which  best  suits  your  needs,  we  are  glad  to  advise  you. 

W.  &  T.'s  Special  Mixture  No.  1 

is  undoubtedly  the  best  all  around  growing  formula  ever  put 
upon  the  market.  It  does  good  work  in  all  kinds  of  land  and  for 
all  vegetation.  Many  of  the  finest  groves  in  the  State  have  been 
brought  to  bearing  on  this  formula  and  receive  liberal  appli- 
cations of  it  every  spring.  It  is  especially  valuable  in  bringing 
out  neglected  groves,  or  creating  new  heads  from  old  stock.  We 
have  made  this  mixture  for  years  and  it  has  constantly  brought 
us  new  friends  by  the  good  work  it  has  done. 

Seminole  Tree  Grower 

This  is  purely  chemical — a  happy  medium  between  a  growing 
formula  and  a  fruit  and  vine  manure.  It  is  especially  fitted  to 
produce  strong,  healthy  growth  either  on  young  trees  or  in 
spring-time  on  bearing  groves.  In  young  groves  we  particularly 
recommend  it  for  summer  application.  Note  the  high-grade 
sources  and  the  well  balanced  proportions. 

Special    Peruvian    Grower 

We  have  here  a  rich,  well  balanced,  growing  formula,  con- 
taining 900  pounds  Genuine  Peruvian  Guano  as  a  base,  supple- 


IDEAL  FERTILIZERS  31 

mented  with  the  most  effective  materials  known  to  the  trade. 
It  affords  quick  action  as  furnished  by  chemical  manures,  lasting 
action  as  furnished  hy  organic  manures,  and  is  the  Ideal  com- 
bination of  Ideal  materials  to  produce  Ideal  results. 

Peruvian  Orange  Tree  Grower 

This  is  the  highest  grade  growing  formula  on  the  market 
both  as  to  sources  and  amount  of  plant  food  it  carries.  It  is 
based  on  a  large  content  of  Peruvian  guano  and  reinforced  by 
suitable  materials.  It  is  of  equal  value  for  young  trees  and  for 
spring  application  to  bearing  groves  and  the  summer  application 
on  grapefruit  and  tangerines.  As  one  of  many  examples  of  its 
Held  work  see  page  27  in  our  booklet  entitled  "Ideal  Results 
from  Ideal  Fertilizers." 

W.  &  T.'s  Special  Orange  Tree  Grower 

A  formula  made  from  Peruvian  guano  and  high-grade 
fertilizer  materials  with  an  analysis  to  suit  those  desiring  less 
ammonia  than  in  our  Peruvian  Orange  Tree  Grower  and  a  far 
smaller  potash  content.  Sources  and  mechanical  condition  fully 
guaranteed. 

Ideal  Fruit  and  Vine  Manure 

is  strictly  chemical  and  from  high  grade  sources.  It  has  many 
staunch  supporters  who  have  used  it  year  after  year  and  say 
that  it  gives  more  good  quality  for  the  money  than  anything  sold 
in  the  State. 

W.  &  T.'s  Special  Fruit  and  Vine  Manure 

is  adapted  to  the  general  conditions  and  has  been  used  for  years 
by  the  greater  number  of  successful  growers  throughout  the 
State  who  want  a  higher  analysis  than  that  given  by  Ideal  Fruit 
and  Vine  Manure.  It  is  purely  chemical,  derives  its  ammonia 


S2  WILSON  &  TOOMER  FERTILIZER  COMPANY 

from  the  slow  acting  sulphate  of  ammonia  and  carries  a  high 
percentage  of  same  for  a  fruit  and  vine  formula  which  makes  it 
very  effective  in  producing  the  results  desired  in  summer, 
especially  as  its  content  of  phosphoric  acid  and  potash  from  the 
highest  grade  sources  is  in  correct  proportion  to  give  to  the  fruit 
all  required  qualities  and  mature  the  wood  perfectly. 

W.  &  T.'s  High  Grade  Fruit  and  Vine 

is  another  formula  made  from  chemical  sources  exclusively  and 
is  used  particularly  on  low  hammock  lands  and  for  the  purpose 
of  hastening  the  maturity  of  the  fruit.  We  made  this  mixture 
several  years  for  one  of  our  valued  customers  before  we  became 
sufficiently  convinced  of  its  value  to  put  it  upon  the  open  market, 
but  the  work  it  has  done  in  his  grove  during  all  this  time  is 
enough  to  convince  the  most  skeptical.  His  fruit  is  of  the 
highest  grade  and  invariably  well  ripened  up  and  ready  for  ship- 
ment several  weeks  before  that  of  his  neighbors. 

Peruvian   Fruit  and  Vine  Manure 

This  formula  is  especially  suited  to  light  sandy  soils  and 
meets  -the  requirements  of  those  who  desire  a  strictly  natural 
fertilizer.  It  is  based  upon  pure  Peruvian  guano  and  ground 
bone  and  reinforced  with  high  grade  materials  to  make  a  perfectly 
balanced  fertilizer.  It  is  one  that  can  he  depended  upon,  not 
only  for  its  effect  upon  trees  and  fruit  but  it  will  help  to  build 
up  the  land. 

W.  &  T.'s  Fruit  and  Vine  Manure 

A  fruit  and  vine  mixture  with  exceedingly  low  ammonia 
content.  Made  from  Peruvian  guano,  nitrate  of  soda,  sulphate 
of  ammonia,  nitrate  of  potash  and  sulphate  of  potash.  Sources 
and  mechanical  condition  fully  guaranteed. 


IDEAL   FERTILIZERS  3.'5 

Seminole  Fruit  and  Vine  Manure 

is  for  hammock  and  very  rich  pine  lands,  carrying  a  low  content 
of  ammonia  and  deriving  part  of  same  from  organic  sources.  For 
some  conditions  this  has  been  found  to  give  wonderfully  good 
results. 

Ideal   Blood,  Bone  and  Potash 

is  rather  slow  acting  and  has  been  found  very  satisfactory  on 
some  lands. 

Ideal    Fertilizers 

Full  descriptions  and  prices  of  the  above  formulas  will  be 
found  in  our  booklet  entitled  Ideal  Fertilizers.  Sent  free  on 
request. 


Our  factory  previous  to  1905. 


34  WILSON  &  TOOMER  FERTILIZER  COMPANY 


CHAPTER   VII. 

Fertilizer  Values 

Fertilizer  has  three  distinct  values — the  practical  value 
determined  by  field  results,  the  State  valuation  determined  by 
its  analysis  reckoned  at  the  price  per  unit  fixed  by  the  State 
Chemist,  and  the  market  value  which  depends  upon  the  market 
price  of  the  ingredients  used. 

The  practical  value  is  by  far  the  most  important.  It  often 
takes  years,  though,  to  settle  upon  the  true  worth  of  a  formula. 
Iii  some  seasons  conditions  are  such  that  good  results  can  be 
obtained  from  almost  any  kind  of  a  mixture,  or  again  fertilizer 
may  give  luxuriant  growth  but  induce  diseased  conditions  or 
perhaps  even  make  a  good  plant  but  cause  unproductivity  or  a 
poor  grade  of  fruit. 

In  a  citrus  grove  in  particular  the  good  or  ill  effects  of 
fertilizer  are  often  quite  slow  in  developing.  It  is  this  point  that 
makes  an  old  formula  much  to  be  desired.  When  one  sees  a 
healthy  and  prolific  grove  that  has  used  a  certain  line  of  formulas 
several  years  he  has  good  proof  that  those  formulas  are  of 
practical  value.  It  is  just  such  proof  of  the  superiority  of  Ideal 
brands  that  we  can  show  in  all  parts  of  the  State.  There 
positively  is  no  other  brand  of  fertilizer  that  can  show  so  many 
profitable  groves  that  have  used  its  formulas  steadily  for  several 
years,  as  can  the  Ideal.  Ideal  not  only  induces  growth  and 
general  health  but  it  tends  to  great  fruitfulness.  Many  groves 
now  bearing  heavy  crops  of  fancy  fruit  were  apparently  in  good 
condition  but  bore  so  little  as  to  be  unprofitable  until  given  Ideal 
Fertilizers  according  to  Ideal  methods.  Note  we  say  according 
to  Ideal  methods.  We  do  not  claim  the  word  "Ideal"  does  this 


IDEAL  FERTILIZERS  35 

work.  One  might  use  Ideal  brands  so  unadvisedly  as  not  to 
obtain  the  desired  results.  Each  formula  is  created  to  fill  cer- 
tain needs,  and  to  give  the  best  results  must  be  used  wisely. 
In  our  various  pamphlets  we  deal  extensively  with  this  subject, 
but  are  always  glad  to  take  it  up  even  more  fully  through  per- 
sonal correspondence. 

The  State  valuation  is  a  quick  way  to  compare  the  worth  of 
the  plant  food  offered  in  different  formulas.  It  cannot  be 
counted  as  a  true  value  because  the  prices  set  are  for  the  three 
essentials  at  seaports  and  make  no  distinctions  in  regard  to 
sources.  The  phosphoric  acid  derived  from  bone  black  is  worth 
fifty  per  cent,  more  on  the  market  than  that  derived  from  super- 
phosphate, yet  it  is  accounted  in  State  valuations  as  worth  just 
the  same.  Ammonia  and  potash  also  vary  in  cost,  though  not  to 
so  great  an  extent.  Neither  are  the  handling  of  the  materials, 
storage,  office  work  and  other  legitimate  expenses  in  running  any 
kind  of  a  business  taken  into  consideration.  For  comparison, 
though.,  this  makes  no  difference,  for  each  manufacturer  has 
practically  the  same  conditions  to  face.  The  prices  settled  upon 
by  the  State  are: 

$3.05  per  unit  of  Ammonia, 
1.00  per  unit  of  Available  Phosphoric  Acid, 
.20  per  unit  of  Insoluble  Phosphoric  Acid, 
1.10  per  unit  of  Potash. 

A  "unit"  of  plant  food  is  twenty  pounds  or  1%  of  a  ton.  Thus, 
a  formula  carrying  4%  of  ammonia  has  four  units  of  ammonia 
and  lacks  $3.65  of  being  worth  as  much  as  one  carrying  5%  of 
ammonia  and  the  same  content  of  available  phosphoric  acid  and 
potash.  But  suppose  this  last  formula  has  1%  more  potash  than 
the  first.  The  potash  is  worth  $1.10.  so  the  difference  in  value 
of  the  two  formulas  would  be  $2.55.  We  have  known  many  simply 
to  add  the  units  of  plant  food  in  each  formula  with  no  thought  of 
the  fact  that  one  per  cent,  of  ammonia  is  worth  more  than  three 


36  WILSON  &  TOOMER  FERTILIZER  COMPANY 

times  as  much  as  a  per  cent,  of  either  available  phosphoric  acitl 
or  potash.  In  comparing  formulas  in  this  way,  the  sources  should 
be  the  same,  or  a  mental  reservation  should  be  made  in  favor  of 
the  one  using  the  highest  priced  materials.  In  this  way  one  can 
quickly  see  where  he  is  getting  the  most  for  his  money. 

We  should  mention  another  point  to  which  this  valuation  by 
units  is  sure  to  lead.  Perhaps  the  formula  runs  4%  ammonia. 
6%  available  phosphoric  acid  and  8%  potash.  One  soon  realizes 
he  is  getting  360  pounds  of  plant  food  in  a  ton  of  fertilizer  and 
many  times  immediately  concludes  the  manufacturer  is  using 
1,640  pounds  of  "filler"  on  which  he  has  to  pay  freight,  etc.,  and 
that  he  had  better  buy  the  materials  and  "know  just  what  he  is 
getting."  Well,  what  does  he  get  when  he  buys  materials?  In 
nitrate  of  soda  he  gets  17  pounds  of  plant  food  to  each  hundred 
pounds  he  buys.  In  sulphate  of  ammonia  he  gets  25  pounds  in 
every  hundred;  in  bone  black  and  superphosphate,  16  pounds  and 
in  the  sulphates  of  potash,  26  pounds  and  49  pounds.  Thus  even 
when  he  buys  materials,  a  large  percentage  is  not  plant  food. 
This  has  to  be  for  it  would  not  be  practical  to  separate  the  pure 
plant  food  from  these  combinations  or  to  handle  or  use  it  after 
it  was  separated.  The  use  of  filler  is  not  at  all  desired  by  the 
fertilizer  manufacturer,  for  all  fillers  are  an  expense  for  whicli 
he  gets  no  credit.  His  fertilizer  is  valued  for  the  amount  of  plant 
food  it  contains  and  the  materials  carrying  this  plant  food 
furnish  practically  all  the  ton  of  fertilizer  except  in  formulas 
of  very  low  analysis. 

The  market  value  will  show  if  the  price  charged  is  excessive 
for  the  material  used.  Fertilizer  materials  are  quoted  at  prac- 
tically the  same  figures  by  all  dealers,  yet  Ideal  brands  are  the 
only  ones  not  priced  several  dollars  in  excess  of  the  amount  for 
which  these  materials  could  be  bought,  mixed  and  bagged.  Of 
course,  in  buying  the  materials  in  this  way,  the  grower  misses 
the  exact  proportions  that  give  great  value  to  a  formula  when 
several  kinds  of  plant  food  are  used.  He  would  be  sure  of  getting 


IDEAL   FERTILIZERS  37 

the  same  mixture  only  when  there  were  just  three  ingredients 
and  then  he  would  have  to  allow  for  excess  of  analysis  the  same 
as  does  the  manufacturer,  but  we  do  not  charge  for  the  propor- 
tioning of  these  ingredients.  It  has  been  said  we  could  not  put 
up  certain  formulas  from  the  materials  claimed  to  be  used  for 
the  money  we  ask  for  them.  Our  one  reply  is  to  ask  that  who- 
ever doubts  our  ability  to  do  so  figure  a  little  on  the  matter  and 
see  for  himself.  One  never  will  find  our  prices  too  low  to  be 
consistent  with  furnishing  the  materials  we  claim  to  use.  and  our 
guarantee  on  sources  and  mechanical  condition  is  as  strong  as 
on  analysis.  There  are  strictly  legitimate  reasons  why  we  can 
give  good  value  for  the  money.  We  have  had  long  experience 
in  the  fertiliser  markets  in  all  parts  of  the  world  and  have  ample 
capital  to  buy  materials  in  large  quantities  and  at  the  most  favor- 
able times.  Two  of  the  leading  railroads  have  laid  their  tracks 
to  our  factory  and  ocean  steamships  can  unload  at  our  wharf,  so 
we  secure  the  lowest  freight  rates  possible  and  delivery  is  made 
and  shipments  taken  at  our  door.  Our  factory  is  equipped 
throughout  with  labor-saving  devices,  therefore  our  fertilizer  is 
handled  at  minimum  cost.  Our  trade  is  so  immense  (twice  that 
of  our  largest  competitor  in  the  State)  that  the  office  expenses 
are  much  less  per  ton  than  is  possible  in  a  smaller  business.  Our 
every  condition  is  favorable  for  economy  and  we  give  our  cus- 
tomers (he  henofil.  While  we  make  (he  best,  we  can  and  do  sell 
the  cheapest. 


227123 


WILSON  &  TOOMER  FERTILIZER  COMPANY 


CHAPTER  VITI. 

Fertilizing 

The  following  directions  for  fertilizing  are  the  result  of  over 
thirty  years'  careful  study  and  practical  experience.  We  have 
taken  into  consideration  the  laws  that  govern  the  growth  of 
citrus  trees,  the  development  of  the  fruit  from  blossom  to 
maturity,  the  analysis  of  the  wood  and  fruit  and  the  conditions 
of  our  soil  and  climate;  and  the  good  results  the  Ideal  method 
of  fertilization  has  given  for  years  in  all  parts  of  the  State  speak 
most  emphatically  of  its  merit. 

Spring  Fertilizing 

Our  method  advocating  three  applications  of  fertilizer  a  year 
is  followed  by  a  greater  number  of  the  successful  growers,  but 
there  are  many  who  are  tempted  to  skip  either  the  summer  or 
the  fall  application.  Some  are  inclined  to  feel  that  after  the  crop 
is  on  the  trees  it  is  sure  to  be  matured  and  fail  to  realize  the  loss 
to  them  in  the  small  sized  fruit  and  the  limited  growth  made 
during  the  summer  the  tree  is  left  to  its  own  resources.  Others 
appreciate  these  points,  but  feel  the  trees  do  not  need  the  fall 
application  because  they  see  no  growth  or  development  in  any 
way  to  show  benefit  from  it.  That  the  trees  are  more  vigorous 
and  respond  more  fully  to  the  spring  application  after  having 
received  fall  fertilizer  is  only  too  often  accredited  to  other 
circumstances.  But  whatever  may  be  the  attitude  towards  other 
applications,  spring  fertilizing  is  acknowledged  by  all  to  be 
essential.  At  this  season  there  is  an  unexplainable  current  of 
life  that  pulsates  throughout  the  whole  animal  and  vegetable 
world.  "Spring's  impulse"  it  is  often  called,  and  who  can  deny 
its  influence?  The  one  trouble  about  its  effect  on  an  orange 
grove  is  that  the  grower  awakes  to  the  fact  that  "spring  has 


IDEAL  FERTILIZERS  39 

come"  at  the  time  the  buds  are  bursting  and  new  leaves  formiug, 
or  perhaps  even  not  until  the  bloom  begins  to  show.  He  then 
responds  to  the  call  of  his  trees,  but  is  at  least  two  weeks  too 
late  to  give  them  the  greatest  help.  Their  first  and  strongest 
impulse  is  passed  and  though  they  will  act  on  the  new  supply  of 
material,  second  efforts  are  never  so  forcible  as  are  the  first.  A 
tree  is  Nature's  factory  and  like  all  other  factories,  must  limit 
its  output  to  the  raw  material  at  hand.  The  plant  food  was  not 
ready  when  needed,  therefore,  we  have  lost  part  of  the  growth 
the  tree  would  have  made;  yet  our  fertilizer  costs  us  just  as 
much  money  as  it  would  have  done  if  purchased  at  the  proper 
time.  It  does  not  pay  to  be  guided  by  one's  moods.  The  success- 
ful man  looks  ahead  and  provides  for  the  conditions  he  knows 
are  going  to  exist. 

And,  too,  during  the  dormant  stage  many  insects  deposit  their 
eggs  upon  the  old  leaves.  When  a  strong,  rapid  growth  takes  place 
and  the  new  leaves  are  well  rounded  out,  the  old  leaves  are  dis- 
carded and  fall  to  the  ground,  taking  with  them  the  millions  of 
undeveloped  eggs  that  in  a  short  time  would  have  hatched  and 
spread  over  the  foliage  and  fruit. 

Generally  speaking,  our  spring  opens  from  the  10th  to  the 
20th  of  February  and  to  have  the  plant  food  ready  for  the  new 
growth  it  should  be  applied  about  two  weeks  before  that  time, 
so  the  roots  can  have  it  assimilated,  and  at  this  season,  the 
fertilizer  should  be  either  plowed  in  or  worked  in  with  a  cut-a- 
way harrow  except  on  the  low  marl  hammocks. 

We  have  five  formulas  that  we  offer  for  this  spring  applica- 
tion, each  perfect  in  its  way  but  suited  to  the  different  conditions 
found  in  different  localities: 

W.  &  T.'s  Special  Mixture  No.  1 

Seminole  Tree  Grower 

Special    Peruvian    Grower 

Peruvian  Orange  Tree  Grower 

W.  &  T.'s  Special  Orange  Tree  Grower 


40  WILSON  &  TOOMER   FERTILIZER   COMPANY 

These  fertilizers  are  made  from  high-grade  materials  and 
those  best  adapted  to  this  season.  They  are  easily  soluble,  for 
this  is  the  time  when  we  look  for  our  worst  droughts  that  do  so 
much  injury  to  the  young  fruit. 

We  believe  in  plowing  in  the  spring  application  on  the  pine 
land  and  high  dry  hammocks,  because  it  turns  the  fertilizer  down 
to  the  moist  earth  and  gives  a  mulching  of  loose  soil  above  the 
roots  so  that  they  do  not  dry  out  so  much  when  the  severe 
droughts  come.  Then,  with  frequent  harrowing  until  the  rainy 
season  sets  in,  the  moisture  in  the  soil  will  L«  conserved  and  the 
young  fruit  will  develop  properly. 

If  you  are  in  doubt  as  to  which  formula  suits  your  needs, 
write  us  fully  and  we  shall  be  pleased  to  advise  you.  We  have 
given  this  matter  close  study  for  over  thirty  years  and  are  glad 
to  give  you  the  benefit  of  our  experience. 

After  deciding  upon  the  formula,  the  question  arises:  How 
much  fertilizer  does  the  tree  need  at  this  time?  We  will  suppose 
we  have  given  our  grove  a  fall  application  and  the  trees  are 
full  of  vigor,  but,  if  we  have  not,  that  much  is  lost  and  cannot 
now  be  regained.  Trees  that  will  bear  five  boxes  of  fruit  need 
about  twenty  pounds  for  this  spring  application,  while  if  ten  boxes 
may  be  expected  an  additional  ten  pounds  should  be  applied.  If 
this  seems  too  much,  just  consider  the  tree  must  live  first.  After 
that  need  is  supplied  all  the  fertilizer  that  is  assimilated  is 
transformed  into  growth  and  fruit.  Now,  what  better  investment 
can  be  made  than  to  turn  a  few  cents'  worth  of  fertilizer  into  a 
few  dollars'  worth  of  fruit,  and  besides,  have  the  bearing  surface 
of  the  tree  increased  for  the  next  year's  crop?  But  bear  in  mind, 
this  spring  fertilizing  is  simply  giving  the  trees  and  fruit  a  good 
start.  If  more  food  is  not  supplied  in  the  summer  much  of  the 
crop  will  be  lost,  for  the  tree  has  to  have  food  to  develop  the  fruit 
properly  and  also  to  make  the  summer  growth. 


IDEAL  FERTILIZERS  41 

Summer  Fertilizing 

Summer  fertilizing  has  a  many-sided  significance  and  is  not 
given  nearly  so  much  attention  as  it  desenres.  The  tree  has  all 
the  fruit  its  vitality  has  enabled  it  to  hold  and  is  eager  to  carry 
this  fruit  on  to  maturity.  If  insufficient  material  is  at  hand  to 
provide  for  all  the  demands  of  this  season,  Nature  will  put  her 
best  effort  into  the  developing  of  the  fruit  and  give  scant  heed 
to  its  size  and  the  growth  of  new  wood.  The  grower,  however, 
cannot  afford  to  overlook  the  importance  of  these  items. 

While  over-sized  fruit  is  not  at  all  to  be  desired,  the  number 
of  fruit  required  for  two  boxes  of  the  252  size  would  pack  nearly 
three  boxes  of  the  popular  176's  and  would  also  bring  more  per 
box.  It  is  natural  for  the  fruit  to  grow  through  the  summer 
season  and  if  the  material  is  there  for  the  tree  to  work  upon,  the 
fruit  will  increase  in  size  throughout  the  warm  weather.  On  this 
one  point  the  summer  application  more  than  pays  for  itself,  but 
we  must  not  think  of  size  alone  as  making  fruit  desirable.  Though 
size  is  important,  quality  is  far  more  to  be  desired.  There 
are  few  vegetations  that  show  such  marked  influence  from  source 
of  plant  food  as  does  the  citrus  family.  It  has  taken  years  to 
learn  the  exact  sources  and  proportions  of  these  sources  to  use 
in  order  to  gain  the  very  best  results. 

The  perfect  orange  must  be  heavy  with  luscious  juice,  not 
too  tart,  nor  must  it  Le  insipid.  There  must  be  little  "rag"  while 
the  skin  of  strictly  fancy  fruit  is  of  a  beautiful  reddish  color, 
smooth  and  velvety  to  the  touch  and  though  thin,  so  tough  as  to 
enable  the  fruit  to  reach  distant  markets  in  perfect  condition. 
Proper  culture  and  fertilization  will  produce  such  fruit,  and  the 
grower  reaps  great  reward  for  careful  attention  to  these  matters. 

Quality  has  ever  been  given  too  little  prominence  in  citrus 
culture,  quantity  having  I  een  the  grower's  watchword;  but  the 
time  has  come  when  quality  must  be  given  first  place.  Ideal 
brands  make  yearly  by  far  the  greater  share  of  the  fruit  that 
brings  the  highest  market  prices.  It  is  well  though  for  the 


42  WILSON  &  TOOMER  FERTILIZER  COMPANY 

grower  to  remember  that  however  fine  the  crop  may  be  as  a 
whole,  not  every  orange  can  be  fancy  and  that  it  is  impossible 
to  give  too  much  care  to  strict  grading.  Just  a  few  inferior 
oranges  in  a  box  will  drag  the  entire  box  down  to  their  level. 

It  is  the  nature  of  the  citrus  family  to  make  another  growth 
of  branch  just  when  the  fruit  is  draining  so  heavily  upon  the 
tree's  resources,  and  it  is  upon  this  growth  that  a  great  deal  of 
the  next  year's  bearing  wood  is  produced.  Thus  a  lack  of 
nourishment  at  this  time  limits  the  area  of  the  bearing  wood  and 
in  consequence,  the  next  crop  is  smaller  than  it  might  be. 

As  a  specimen  of  what  citrus  trees  will  do  we  would  call 
your  attention  to  the  grand  old  giants  of  Clearwater  shown  in 
our  booklet  entitled  Ideal  Results  From  Ideal  Fertilizers.  Our 
trees  should  outlive  us,  becoming  more  valuable  each  year,  and 
they  will  do  so  if  given  the  proper  care.  It  is  when  Nature  is 
restricted  and  made  to  feel  that  her  efforts  are  of  no  avail  that 
she  gives  up  the  struggle  and  disease  and  death  find  their  way 
into  our  groves. 

For  a  time  after  the  spring  growth  the  orange  tree  is  prac- 
tically dormant,  the  little  twigs  rounding  out  and  the  young  fruit 
slowly  enlarging,  Luc  by  the  middle  of  May  it  begins  to  prepare 
for  the  summer  growth  of  branch  and  the  rapid  development  of 
the  fruit,  and  the  wise  grower  will  have  ample  food  at  hand  that 
he  may  reap  full  reward  from  Nature's  efforts  in  this  direction. 

We  are  fully  convinced  that  about  the  20th  of  May  is  the 
proper  time  to  make  this  summer  application.  Too  many  growers 
wait  until  the  latter  part  of  June  or  even  July  when  the  growth 
is  out,  thus  continuing  the  flow  of  sap  until  late  in  the  fall  and 
thereby  make  their  fruit  coarse  and  also  retard  the  ripening 
several  weeks. 

The  trees  need  their  food  before  they  start  to  make  their 
growth  so  that  the  ammonia  will  be  used  to  increase  this  growth 
and  also  because  it  is  just  at  this  stage  of  the  fruit's  develop- 
ment that  the  ammonia  will  give  it  size  without  affecting  the 


IDEAL  FERTILIZERS  43 

fineness  of  grain  which  is  so  desirable  a  quality.  When  our  per- 
fectly balanced  formulas  are  applied  at  the  right  time  the 
ammonia  is  taken  up  in  this  way  early  in  the  summer  and  all 
through  August  and  the  fall  months  the  fruit  develops  slowly 
and  the  branches  gradually  harden  to  sustain  their  increased 
burden. 

The  formulas  we  offer  for  this  application  are  varied  to  fit 
different  conditions  of  soil  and  different  requirements  of  the 
growers. 

W.  &  T.'s  Special  Fruit  and  Vine  Manure 

Ideal  Fruit  and  Vine  Manure 

W.  &  T.'s  High  Grade  Fruit  and  Vine 

Peruvian   Fruit  and  Vine  Manure 

W.  &  T.'s  Fruit  and  Vine  Manure 

Seminole  Fruit  and  Vine  Manure 

Ideal  Blood,  Bone  and  Potash 

The  quantity  to  be  used  for  summer  application  necessarily 
depends  upon  the  size  of  the  tree  and  the  crop  it  is  carrying.  A 
tree  carrying  five  bx>xes  of  fruit  will  need  about  fifteen  pounds 
of  fertilizer  while  one  carrying  ten  boxes  requires  about  twenty- 
five  pounds.  Remember,  a  tree  is  but  a  factory  and  can  produce 
growth  and  fruit  only  as  it  is  provided  with  materials  to  do 
with,  and  it  is  poor  economy  to  restrict  its  output  of  dollars  by 
depriving  it  of  a  few  cents  worth  of  food. 

Fall  Fertilizing 

It  would  seem  that  just  at  the  time  when  the  year's  work 
of  the  orange  tree  was  completed  and  the  grower  was  exchanging 
its  fruits  for  money  he  would  feel  like  doing  something  nice  by 
such  a  faithful  servant,  but  cold  facts  reveal  that  of  the  three 
needed  applications  of  fertilizer  during  each  year  it  is  the  fall 


44  WILSON  &  TOOMER  FERTILIZER  COMPANY 

application  that  is  the  most  begrudged  and  the  most  often 
neglected.  The  two  excuses  most  commonly  given  are  that  the 
owner  is  too  busy  packing  fruit  and  that  the  tree  does  not  need 
any  more  food  until  spring  because  it  will  make  no  more  growth. 
If  we  could  but  bring  all  the  tree  owners  to  feel  that  trees  are 
alive  and  in  many  ways  closely  akin  to  animal  life,  it  would  bt 
a  great  work.  Trees  need  their  nourishment  just  as  much  as 
man  or  beast.  We  are  particular  to  have  our  three  meals  a  day 
whether  we  work  or  not,  and  who  ever  neglects  to  feed  his  work 
horse  because  he  is  "too  busy"  or  because  the  horse  is  not  going 
to  work  all  night? 

The  owner  has  generally  rakeu  a  vacation  over  summer, 
either  at  home  or  away,  the  horse  has  had  little  to  do  all  through 
the  hot  months,  but  the  tree  has  worked  every  day  making  or 
maturing  new  growth  and  developing  a  crop  of  fine  fruit.  All  its 
resources  have  teen  drained,  and  when  the  fruit  is  fully  matured 
it  is  exhausted  just  the  same  as  man  is  after  a  long,  hard  day's 
work,  and  Nature  provides  it  a  resting  period  which  can  well  be 
compared  to  our  night.  We  feel  the  need  of  our  evening  meal 
and  know  that  though  we  are  seemingly  at  rest  through  the  night, 
Nature  is  busy  repairing  the  wear  and  tear  of  the  day  and  getting 
us  ready  for  another  day's  labors.  Her  work  could  not  be  so  well 
done  did  we  take  no  nourishment  at  night  and  we  in  no  way  feel 
that  having  an  evening  meal  removes  our  need  of  breakfast  This 
is  exactly  the  view  we  should  take  of  fall  fertilizing.  Nature 
needs  that  plant  food  to  replenish  the  tree's  forces  that  it 
may  act  vigorously  in  response  to  the  call  of  spring  and 
use  the  fertilizer  given  it  at  that  time  for  growth  and 
bloom  rather  than  a  greater  part  of  it  merely  to  keep  the  tree 
alive.  Many  a  man  who  would  be  scandalized  at  the  thought  of 
keeping  a  bony  horse  keeps  his  grove  in  a  similar  state  of  semi- 
starvation.  He  feeds  it  just  enough  to  keep  it  alive,  or  perhaps 
he  is  more  liberal  and  keeps  the  trees  in  fairly  good  condition, 
but  stops  just  short  of  the  point  where  they  could  set  and  hold 


IDEAL  FERTILIZERS  4o 

a  remunerative  crop.  It  is  not  natural  for  a  tree  to  drop  its 
young  fruit.  Nature  is  very  conservative  and  is  not  at  all  inclined 
to  waste  her  energies  starting  fruit  to  be  thrown  away.  A  tree 
will  hold  all  the  fruit  its  vitality  will  allow  and  it  is  upon  the 
fall  fertilizing  that  the  vitality  depends  to  a  great  extent. 

From  the  15th  of  November  to  the  loth  of  December  seems 
to  be  the  right  time  for  this  application  to  give  the  best  results. 
The  following  formulas  are  recommended  for  use  at  this  season : 

Ideal   Fruit  and  Vine  Manure 

W.  &  T.'s  Special  Fruit  and  Vine  Manure 

Peruvian   Fruit  and  Vine  Manure 

W.  &  T.'s  Fruit  and  Vine  Manure 

W.  &  T.'s  High   Grade   Fruit  and  Vine 

Seminole  Fruit  and  Vine  Manure 

A  tree  large  enough  to  bear  five  l/oxes  of  fruit  will  need 
about  fifteen  pounds  of  fertilizer  at  this  application.  This  fer- 
tilizer can  be  applied  according  to  the  method  of  cultivation 
employed  for  the  grove.  It  can  l:e  harrowed  in  if  the  grove 
has  been  plowed,  or  chopped  in  with  a  cut-a-way  harrow,  or 
hoed  in  around  the  trees  and  covered  with  a  mulch  or  simply 
left  on  the  surface  to  be  carried  down  by  the  winter  rains.  Each 
of  these  different  methods  have  been  found  successful  under  some 
one  of  the  various  conditions  to  be  found.  This  is  a  great  State 
and  it  is,  to  a  great  extent,  the  diverse  soils  and  climates  it 
represents  that  causes  the  many  different  opinions  as  to  the 
proper  cultivation  of  a  citrus  grove.  Hut  though  the  methods  of 
cultivation  vary  ever  so  widely  trees  in  all  sections  need  this 
fall  fertilizer  to  be  gradually  taken  up  and  assimilated  by  the 
roots  during  the  winter  to  establish  full  vigor ;  then  when  spring'" 
impulse  comes  the  response  will  be  strong  and  enduring. 


40  WILSON  &  TOOMER   FERTILIZER  COMPANY 

Fertilizing  Young  Trees 

For  young  trees  we  recommend  the  formulas : 

W.  &  T.'s  Special  Mixture  No.  1 

Seminole  Tree  Grower 

Special    Peruvian   Grower 

Peruvian  Orange  Tree  Grower 

for  spring  and  summer  applications  in  amounts  depending  upon 
the  size  and  condition  of  the  trees. 

For  fall  application  our  Seminole  Tree  Grower  is  used  in  the 
lower  East  Coast  section,  b-ut  in  the  center  of  the  State  and  on 
the  West  Coast  the  application  is  often  omitted. 

Young  trees  should  be  kept  well  worked  except  over  summer. 
During  this  season  disturbing  the  soil  is  likely  to  create  acid 
conditions.  Extra  heavy  mulching  should  be  used,  for  the  grass  or 
cover  crop  must  not  be  allowed  to  choke  the  trees.  Make  the 
circle  of  mulching  considerably  farther  out  than  the  outermost 
branches,  for  one  should  always  strive  to  create  a  large  root 
surface.  In  working  young  trees,  while  the  greatest  care  should 
be  taken  not  to  tear  the  roots,  one  should  disturb  the  ground  at 
the  outer  edge  of  the  circle  to  a  depth  of  three  or  four  inches, 
if  possible,  to  cause  the  roots  to  strike  down  deep  and  thus  be 
less  likely  to  dry  out  than  when  near  the  surface.  Remember 
Ideal  brands  are  long  past  the  experimental  stage.  They  have 
produced  many  of  the  finest  bearing  groves  in  the  State. 


IDEAL  FERTILIZERS 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Picking  and  Packing 

Our  aim  in  this  book  has  been  to  tell  people  what  would  be 
of  real  service  to  them.  We  are  now  to  one  of  the  most  important 
phases  of  citrus  growing  but  we  can  give  very  few  directions 
beyond  telling  what  should  receive  attention.  This  part  has  to 
be  learned  by  actual  demonstration  in  the  field  and  packing 
house  and  can  be  perfected  only  by  considerable  experience 
except  in  cases  where  one  has  a  natural  gift  for  judging  fruit. 

A  grower  about  whom  the  neighbors  jeer  because  he  throws 
away  box  after  box  of  "perfectly  good  fruit"  is  one  who  is  doing 
good  packing.  It  is  the  packer  who  culls  closely  that  makes  the 
money.  Citrus  fruits  are  easily  damaged.  A  clipper  cut,  finger 
nail  abrasion,  thorn  prick,  or  drop  of  six  inches  will  ruin  their 
carrying  qualities.  The  picker  should  be  provided  with  ladder, 
clippers  and  picking  receptacle.  The  ladder  should  be  placed 
with  great  care.  The  picker  who  threshes  his  ladder  about  to 
secure  a  firm  resting  place  bruises  or  thorn  pricks  more  fruit 
than  his  day's  work  is  worth.  There  are  many  clippers  on  the 
market  now  that  do  good  work,  being  shaped  so  they  will  cut  a 
short  stem  and  yet  so  that  it  is  almost  impossible  to  harm  the 
fruit  while  doing  so.  A  short  stem  is  absolutely  necessary 
because  of  the  damage  done  other  fruit  by  the  end  of  the  long 
stem.  The  requirements  for  a  good  receptacle  are  that  the  fruit 
finds  an  easy  resting  place  within  and  is  protected  from  outside 
pressures :  also  that  it  be  shaped  to  empty  into  the  field  box 
without  jarring  its  contents.  There  are  many  different  contriv- 
ances, each  having  its  firm  supporters.  Many  of  the  growers  are 
having  the  pickers  wear  white  gloves,  and  all  insist  upon  short 
finger  nails.  The  field  boxes  should  be  small  enough  so  one  man 
can  lift  them  and  set  them  down  without  jarring.  The  ends 
should  be  enough  higher  than  the  sides  to  make  It  impossible 


48  WILSON  &  TOOMER   FERTILIZER   COMPANY 

for  the  fruit  to  come  against  the  bottom  of  the  box  packed  above 
it.  A  spring  wagon  should  always  be  used  in  hauling  fruit.  The 
custom  of  washing  fruit  is  becoming  more  and  more  firmly 
established.  While  an  absolutely  perfect  and  unblemished  fruit 
cannot  be  made  to  look  any  better  than  it  does  when  picked 
from  the  tree,  by  far  the  greater  part  of  the  crop  is  vastly 
improved  by  the  washing;  besides,  a  fungicide  in  the  wash  water 
will  do  much  towards  retarding  decay.  There  should  be  drying 
racks  that  the  fruit  may  have  good  circulation  of  air  around  it 
and  dry  readily.  It  is  especially  important  that  no  decayed  fruit 
be  left  in  the  house,  for  the  infection  spreads  rapidly.  Wherever 
a  bit  of  decay  is  found,  the  wood  should  be  washed  thoroughly 
with  a  strong  fungicide. 

Each  grove  should  send  out  at  least  three,  if  not  four, 
different  brands.  To  have  a  brand  of  value  the  fruit  shipped 
under  it  must  always  be  uniform.  There  are  many  points  nec- 
essary to  make  a  strictly  fancy  fruit.  Some  growers  seem  to 
think  "fancy  fruit"  means  the  bulk  of  their  crops,  but  the  buyer 
does  not  look  at  it  in  that  way.  He  is  looking  for  defects  not 
good  points,  and  if  he  finds  them  he  either  buys  at  reduced 
prices  or  not  at  all.  The  successful  packer  must  take  this  view- 
point :  "Every  doubtful  orange  is  a  cull,"  and  all  will  be  well. 

All  grades  of  fruit  fit  to  be  shipped  at  all  are  worthy  of 
neat  packing,  but  the  style  should  compare  with  the  grade. 
Fancy  paper  is  out  of  place  on  low-grade  fruit.  A  neat  trade- 
mark denoting  its  brand  might  be  used,  but  plain  paper  of  good 
quality  is  better.  The  brand  will  be  shown  on  the  box.  For 
strictly  fancy  fruit  we  believe  in  attractive  little  "stickers" 
on  the  fruit  itself  and  as  pretty  a  design  on  the  wrapping  paper 
as  can  be  devised.  Lace  paper  folded  over  an  attractive  picture 
showing  either  the  trade-mark  alone  or  a  view  of  the  grove  with 
the  trade-mark  in  one  corner  to  greet  the  opener  of  the  box  will 
cost  but  a  few  cents  and  increase  the  selling  price  from  fifty 
cents  to  a  dollar.  All  these  points  count,  but  quality  of  fruit  is 


IDEAL  FERTILIZERS 


49 


of  first  importance,  neatness  of  pack  is  next,  after  which  the 
fancy  pack  can  be  taken  into  consideration.  For  the  convenience 
of  the  packer  we  have  had  cuts  made  from  Bulletin  No.  63  of  the 
Florida  Experiment  Station  showing  measurements  and  ways  of 
packing  for  the  different  sizes  of  oranges  and  grapefruit. 

Before  letting  the  fruit  leave  his  control,  the  shipper  should 
be  as  well  satisfied  of  the  honesty  and  ability  of  the  person  about 
to  handle  it  as  he  would  be  before  he  loaned  as  much  money  as 
the  fruit  is  worth.  It  is  quite  safe  to  say  that  the  greater  number 
of  growers  in  the  State  could  get  25%  if  not  even  100%  more  net 
profit  than  they  are  getting  if  they  would  pay  proper  attention 
to  packing  and  shipping. 


grove  of  Mr.  C.  C.  Tierce,  Brown 
IDEAL  customer. 


our  Special  Artist.) 
,  in  packing  season — an 


50 


WILSON  &  TOOMER   FERTILIZER  COMPANY 


t* 

a 


a  _•* 

o  <NS 

,      j-t  i> 


H    "a]l 
UJ     •» 


oi 

g 

^1 
w 

K 

<J 

L 


l! 

K 


IDEAL  FERTILIZERS 


!i 


• 

Si 


si 


si 

II 


WILSON  &  TOOMER  FERTILIZER  COMPANY 


IS 


31 


o 

si 


IDEAL  FERTILIZERS  53 


Preventives  and  Remedies 

FOR 

Insects  and  Diseases 

IN  THE 

CITRUS  GROVE 


In  taking  up  this  part  of  our  subject  we  are  between  two 
very  different  viewpoints,  and  it  is  quite  difficult,  if  not  an  im- 
possibility, to  please  either,  not  to  mention  the  idea  of  pleasing 
both. 

The  new-comer  or  prospective  settler  will  look  aghast  at  the 
number  of  troubles  that  may  come  to  him  and  almost  hesitate 
at  embarking  in  an  enterprise  "so  hazardous" — never  consider- 
ing that  we  are  pointing  out  a  way  to  prevent  or  correct  nearly 
every  trouble,  and  that  these  troubles  do  not  number  nearly  so 
many  as  could  be  counted  against  almost  any  other  enterprise. 
The  many  flourishing  groves  in  the  State  are  as  vulnerable  as 
his  grove  will  be,  yet  they  not  only  'exist  but  are  profitable  in- 
vestments, through  being  given  the  same  careful  oversight  needed 
to  guide  any  business  to  success. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  experienced  grower  will  feel  that  it 
is  a  waste  of  paper  to  devote  so  much  space  to  things  that  "any- 


54  WILSON  &  TOOMER  FERTILIZER  COMPANY 

one  knows" — forgetting  that  it  took  him  some  years  and  more 
or  less  sad  experience  to  learn  the  points  that  seem  so  simple 
now.  He  had  to  learn  by  experience,  for  the  citrus  industry  of 
Florida  was  then  so  young  that  the  needs  of  the  tree  were  un- 
known to  all,  and  each  problem  had  to  be  worked  out.  The  "end 
is  not  yet."  We  all  can  learn  more  on  this  subject,  year  after 
year,  but  the  industry  is  now  based  on  certain  well  proved  facts, 
and  our  object  in  going  over  this  ground  is  to  give  the  new- 
comer the  chance  to  profit  by  our  experience.  Accompanying 
these  well  known  points,  though,  will  be  found  much  that  will  be 
of  value  to  the  average  grower  of  long  experience,  for  our  ar- 
ticles have  been  most  carefully  prepared. 

Anthracnose 

The  fungus  causing  anthracnose  makes  itself  manifest  to 
citrus  growers  in  many  unpleasant  ways.  Several  years  ago. 
Prof.  P.  H.  Rolfs  demonstrated  the  effects  of  this  fungus  and 
rendered  a  great  service  to  all  interested  in  citrus  culture.  The 
term  anthracnose  has  now  come  to  mean  the  effect  of  the  withertip 
fungus  on  the  fruit.  All  kinds  of  citrus  fruit  suffer  from  its 
attacks  while  extremely  young,  often  in  the  bloom  even;  then 
there  seems  to  be  a  period  of  immunity  lasting  until  the  season 
for  ripening.  When  the  bloom  is  attacked  the  lesions  are  brick 
red  to  brown  in  color.  With  a  lens  the  pustules  can  be  seen  on 
petals  and  all  other  parts.  Much  fruit  the  size  of  buckshot  will 
drop,  leaving  calyx  on  tree;  but  this  is  not  a  sure  sign  of 
anthracnose.  One  may  expect  this  trouble  with  both  bloom  and 
fruit  if  his  tree  is  affected  with  withertip,  but  must  find  the 
brick-red  fungus  before  he  is  absolutely  sure,  because  there  are 
several  other  causes  for  bloom  and  fruit  dropping.  Also  it  is 
possible  for  anthracnose  to  appear  at  this  time  when  it  has  not 
been  noticed  previously  that  withertip  was  present.  The  greater 
part  of  the  matured  fruit  becomes  diseased  while  still  on  the 
tree,  but  if  the  fungus  spores  are  present  they  will  develop  even 


IDEAL   FERTILIZERS  55 

after  shipment.  The  least  abrasion  helps  the  spores  to  become 
established,  but  their  tiny  "roots"  can  enter  a  perfect  fruit  and 
in  any  part  of  it.  Sometimes  the  area  of  infection  is  small,  and 
again  it  will  cover  nearly  the  whole  surface.  The  diseased  spot 
may  remain  about  the  same  size  for  days  or  it  may  spread 
rapid!  .  The  first  sign  of  infection  is  an  irregular  brownish 
stain.  As  the  disease  develops  the  spots  become  gray  or  even 
lighter,  but  when  the  spore-bearing  parts  form  they  give  the 
affected  area  a  dirty  black  color,  either  all  over  or  in  the  older 
spots  shading  from  these  colors  through  those  denoting  the  dif- 
ferent stages  until  the  healthy  rind  is  reached.  The  diseased 
spots  are  generally  sunken  except  where  the  spores  are  forming. 
They  frequently  cause  slight  elevations.  Anthracuose  confines 
itself  to  the  rind  for  awhile,  but  eventually  attacks  the  pulp. 
Fruit  generally  drops  as  soon  as  the  disease  has  become  well 
established,  but  may  hang  on  the  tree  for  some  time. 

Conditions  Favorable  for  Development. — Anything  to  weaken 
the  general  health  of  the  tree,  whether  lack  of  fertilizer,  im- 
proper fertilizer,  unfavorable  climatic  conditions,  insects,  other 
diseases,  or  bad  physiological  surroundings. 

Preventives.— Removing  any  of  the  above  conditions  that  are 
present,  pruning  out  diseased  branches,  cleaning  away  all  in- 
fected fruit  as  soon  as  discovered,  and  spraying  thoroughly  with 
animoniacal  copper  carbonate,  letting  the  spray  fall  from  above 
as  much  as  possible.  This  fungicide  may  also  be  used  in  the 
wash  water  to  prevent  development  en  route  to  market. 

When  anthracnose  attacks  the  bloom  it  is  advisable  to  spray 
thoroughly  with  a  weak  solution  of  animoniacal  copper  carbonate, 
directing  the  spray  into  the  bloom  as  much  as  possible.  The 
spray  will  kill  a  good  many  blooms,  but  not  as  many  as  the 
anthracnose  will  without  it;  and  the  same  is  true  with  young 
fruit,  the  spray  causing  much  of  that  to  fall,  but  the  fungus  must 
be  killed  or  it  will  do  far  more  damage  than  will  be  done  by 
spraying.  (See  Withertip.) 


56  WILSON  &  TOOMER  FERTILIZER  COMPANY 

Blight 

This  disease  is  also  known  as  wilt  and  leaf  curl.  It  attacks 
all  kinds  of  citrus  trees,  but  the  grapefruit  is  more  resistant 
than  the  different  oranges.  It  is  a  disease  of  bearing  trees  and 
seemingly  selects  the  best  trees  in  the  groves.  It  appears  to  be 
infectious  because  trees  surrounding  a  diseased  tree  generally 
develop  the  disease;  but  as  to  the  cause  of  the  trouble  no  one 
has  succeeded  in  gaining  the  least  clue.  The  first  symptom  is 
a  wilting  of  the  foliage  and  is  generally  seen  in  early  spring. 
At  first  this  is  slight  but  becomes  so  pronounced  as  to  be  con- 
tinuous through  the  wet  season.  The  foliage  begins  to  drop,  and 
finally  the  affected  branches  lose  nearly  all  their  leaves.  Any 
new  leaves  forming  are  very  small  and  of  a  dingy  green  color. 
Though  the  branches  may  be  practically  leafless,  they  will  bloom 
profusely  and  for  a  longer  period  than  the  normal  blooming  sea- 
son, but  rarely  set  any  fruit.  Generally  the  tree  lingers  on  for 
several  years,  throwing  up  new  sprouts  to  die  back  and  more 
and  more  of  its  branches  becoming  affected  until  scarcely  more 
than  a  stump  is  left,  but  sometimes  a  tree  will  die  outright 
within  a  few  weeks.  Experience  has  proved  it  to  be  a  great 
mistake  to  leave  a  blighted  tree  in  the  grove.  As  soon  as  one 
is  sure  the  disease  is  blight  the  tree  should  be  dug  up  and  burned 
and  a  new  one  set  in  its  place.  Do  not  drag  it  through  the  grove 
for  fear  of  infecting  other  trees.  This  may  sound  rather  hope- 
less to  the  new-comer,  but  blight  claims  so  few  victims  any 
grower  can  well  pay  the  tax,  while  there  is  many  a  grove  in  the 
State  that  never  has  had  even  one  case  of  the  disease.  The  one 
point  is  to  watch  and  act  decisively  when  blight  appears. 

Decay  in  Transit 

The  following  facts,  demonstrated  by  Prof.  Lloyd  S.  Tenny, 
Pomologist  of  the  United  States  Department  of  Agriculture, 
Washington,  D.  C.,  may  emphasize  the  need  of  careful  packing. 


IDEAL  FERTILIZERS  57 

Needless  to  say  the  res-ult  of  his  researches  will  apply  equally 
to  grapefruit  or  other  citrus  products: 

"During  a  cool,  dry  period  many  Florida  oranges  reach  the 
market  in  good  condition,  but  when  the  weather  is  warm  and 
moist,  cars  of  fruit  arrive  showing  sometimes  as  much  as  30  per 
cent,  or  more  of  decay.  A  conservative  estimate  of  the  total  loss 
from  decay  in  Florida  oranges  would  be  $500,000  annually.  There 
is  an  even  greater  injury  to  the  reputation  of  Florida  oranges 
because  of  the  large  amount  of  decay  that  develops  after  the 
fruit  reaches  the  hands  of  the  wholesale  dealer  or  the  retailer. 

"The  common  decay  in  oranges  is  caused  by  the  growth  of 
a  minute  form  of  plant  life  within  the  tissue  of  the  fruit.  *  *  * 
These  fungi  are  spread  by  spores  which  do  not  seem  to  have  the 
power  of  entering  an  orange  having  a  normal  uninjured  skin. 
The  first  requisite  for  decay,  therefore,  is  a  bruised  or  broken 
skin.  *  *  *  Like  most  other  forms  of  plant  life,  these  fungi 
grow  best  in  a  warm,  moist  atmosphere.  If  the  weather  is  cold 
or  very  dry,  even  injured  fruit  on  which  the  spores  are  present 
may  not  decay." 

The  most  common  injuries  to  the  skin  of  the  orange  are 
caused  by  clipper  cuts,  scratches  made  by  pulling  fruit  through 
the  branches  of  the  trees,  splinters  from  the  field  crates,  twigs 
and  gravel  in  the  bottom  of  the  boxes  or  long  stems  on  other 
oranges  and  cuts  from  the  finger  nails  of  the  pickers  or  packers. 
Prof.  Tenny  found  fruit  from  eight  pickers  averaged  6.1%  clip- 
per cut,  9.6%  other  injuries,  and  16.8%  long  stems.  If  each  long 
stem  hurt  only  one  other  orange  the  total  or  injured  fruit  would 
then  be  32.5%,  but  one  could  not  hope  for  such  good  luck.  The 
quality  of  their  work  does  not  necessarily  depend  upon  the 
rapidity  of  the  pickers'  movements — some  of  the  fastest  pickers 
were  proved  the  most  careful  and  vice  versa. 

In  the  packing  house  it  was  proven  that  a  far  greater  loss 
resulted  when  the  fruit  was  sized  by  machinery  than  when 
handled  by  hand.  This  is  not  at  all  an  argument  for  hand  work 


58  WILSON  &  TOOMER  FERTILIZER  COMPANY 

but  for  improved  machinery.  Hoppers  and  steep  runways  are 
especially  disastrous.  About  one-fifth  of  the  oranges  subject  to 
drops,  but  otherwise  handled  with  the  utmost  care,  showed  decay, 
so  one  may  realize  the  damage  done  by  emptying  a  field  box 
into  a  hopper.  Carrying  belts  should  b«  used  where  a  quantity 
of  fruit  is  handled,  otherwise  change  the  fruit  from  picking 
receptacle  to  field  box  and  from  field  box  to  rack  by  hand.  The 
advice  of  one  most  successful  packer  is,  "Always  handle  an 
orange  as  though  it  were  an  egg."  Citrus  growers  surely  should 
give  this  matter  the  greatest  attention,  for  it  is  an  injustice  to 
themselves  and  the  whole  industry  to  allow  such  a  drain  from 
their  net  returns. 

Die-Back 

Die-back  is  quite  generally  believed  to  be  the  result  of  mal- 
nutrition, but  as  to  the  exact  form  of  "indigestion"  no  definite 
conclusions  have  been  reached.  We  have,  though,  learned  to 
combat  the  disease  quite  successfully. 

The  foliage  of  a  tree  about  to  suffer  with  die-back  is  gener- 
ally a  very  dark  green — often  the  tree  has  made  a  rank  growth 
and  to  the  uninitiated  appears  to  be  doing  wonderfully  well.  The 
ends  of  this  luxuriant  growth  turn  yellowish  and  finally  reddish- 
brown.  Stains  are  likely  to  spread  over  all  the  new  growth 
and  the  twigs  soon  die  back  several  inches.  The  disease  is  ac- 
companied with  wax-like  exudations  through  the  bark  of  both 
old  and  young  growth  and  secretion  of  gum  in  pockets  in  the  wood 
at  or  near  the  buds.  Another  characteristic  is  multiple  buds. 
Trees  having  die-back  generally  produce  very  little  bloom.  This 
is  in  marked  contrast  with  those  suffering  with  blight,  for  blight- 
ing trees  bloom  profusely.  The  young  fruit  has  not  the  rich, 
dark  green  color  of  the  normal  immature  fruit,  but  is  a  sickly 
pale  green.  Much  fruit  falls  while  it  is  yet  small,  but  a  greater 
number  reach  a  size  of  from  1  to  1£  inches  in  diameter,  when 
they  turn  a  pale  yellow  that  has  no  resemblance  to  the  healthy 
orange  color.  From  this  stage  on  the  fruit  falls  rapidly,  only  a 


IDEAL  FERTILIZERS  59 

small  percentage  reaching  full  size.  Generally  they  split  before 
dropping.  The  split  usually  shows  first  at  the  apex  of  the  orange, 
then  opens  across  the  fruit,  exposing  the  segments.  The  fruit 
also  show  tiny  brown  exudations  in  different  parts  of  the  rind. 
This  is  called  "ammoniated,"  or  "fungused"  fruit,  but  neither 
term  is  correct.  Die-back,  as  far  as  is  known,  is  caused  by  neither 
ammonia  nor  fungus  though  it  is  quite  true  some  of  the  fertilizer 
"ammoniates"  induce  its  appearance.  The  brown  markings  of 
die-back  fruit  resemble  anthracnose,  but  may  be  distinguished 
by  the  fact  that  anthracnose  markings  are  depressed,  while  die- 
back  spots  never  are.  Die-back  fruit  is  further  to  L-e  distinguished 
by  the  gum  deposits  in  the  inner  angles  of  the  sections  at  the 
center  of  the  fruit.  The  small  portion  of  fruit  from  a  die-back 
tree  that  does  mature  ripens  earlier  than  its  healthy  relations, 
but  is  so  coarse,  thick-skinned  and  disfigured  that  it  seldom  finds 
a  market. 

Conditions  Favoring  Die-back. — Poorly  drained  soil  is  sure  to 
bring  about  die-back  conditions,  but  that  poor  drainage  is  not 
the  sole  cause  is  amply  proved  by  equally  bad  cases  of  the  dis- 
ease being  found  on  pine  laud,  shell  land  and  low  hammock.  Ill- 
advised  cultivation  is  another  "forerunner"  of  an  attack  of  die- 
back,  while  organic  ammoniates — stable  manure,  dried  blood, 
cotton  seed  meal,  etc. — are  especially  harmful.  A  very  unbal- 
anced fertilizer,  exceedingly  high  in  ammonia,  might  induce  die- 
back  conditions  by  creating  growth  lacking  other  food  elements 
to  mature  it;  but  this  would  be  only  when  a  greatly  excessive 
amount  was  put  on  either  accidentally  or  for  experiment.  It 
could  never  come  about  by  using  the  formulas  of  commerce,  that 
are  made  from  the  proper  sources.  Indeed  in  our  experience 
we  have  often  found  that  die-back  trees  were  suffering  from  the 
lack  of  ammonia. 

Remedies. — Make  sure  of  having  proper  drainage.  Do  not 
feel  satisfied  because  your  trees  are  on  elevated  land  that 
appears  to  be  well  drained.  Often  there  is  a  clay  basin  that  holds 


60  WILSON  &  TOOMER  FERTILIZER  COMPANY 

the  water.  If  such  is  the  case  it  must  be  cut  through.  If  acid 
conditions  are  found,  apply  either  a  ton  of  ashes,  a  ton  of  slaked 
lime  or  two  or  three  tons  of  crushed  limestone  per  acre.  The 
ashes  can  be  left  to  be  washed  down  by  the  rains,  but  the  others 
must  be  worked  in;  therefore  we  prefer  the  ashes  for  it  is  far 
better  not  to  work  die-back  trees — to  let  the  native  growth  take 
possession  of  all  except  a  heavily  mulched  circle  around  the 
trees.  If  one  knows  too  much  ammonia  has  been  applied, 
the  ammonia  should  be  omitted  from  the  fall  application 
of  fertilizer,  after  which  well  balanced  formulas  made  from 
purely  chemical  sources  should  be  used.  For  spring  application 
use  Seminole  Tree  Grower;  for  summer,  W.  &  T.'s  Special  Fruit 
and  Vine  Manure,  and  for  fall  use  the  Ideal  Fruit  and  Vine 
Manure.  If  the  die-back  has  developed  from  other  causes,  correct 
the  causes  and  use  the  formulas  recommended  above  from  the 
first.  They  can  be  spread  on  the  surface  of  the  ground  and  left 
to  find  their  way  into  the  soil.  There  will  be  no  loss  unless  lime 
or  ashes  is  applied  with  them.  The  Florida  Experiment  Station 
has  made  some  experiments  with  bluestone  and  so  far  does  not 
feel  justified  in  recommending  its  use  for  die-back,  but  we  have 
great  faith  in  its  efficacy.  It  is,  of  course,  necessary  to  remove 
the  disturbing  influences  that  are  causing  the  trouble,  and  very 
often  that  alone  is  sufficient  to  bring  about  a  cure,  but  many  other 
times  from  a  quarter  to  a  full  pound  of  powdered  bluestone 
scattered  upon  the  ground  well  away  from  the  trunk,  or  a  bit 
of  bluestone  from  the  size  of  a  grain  of  wheat  to  a  split  pea 
inserted  under  the  bark  near  the  base  will  stimulate  the  tree 
and  bring  about  a  cure  in  a  much  shorter  time  and  sometimes 
when  we  fear  all  other  means  would  fail.  As  die-back  is  a 
physical  condition  it  must  not  be  expected  to  show  improvement 
immediately.  The  cure  will  take  time  and  must  come  about 
gradually,  and  while  this  is  going  on  do  not  starve  your  trees 
and  thus  deprive  them  of  the  vitality  the}1  need  so  much  to  help 
them  throw  off  the  disease. 


IDEAL  FERTILIZERS  61 

Diplodia  Rot 

This  trouble  has  been  known  in  our  groves  only  about  two 
years.  It  is  quite  similar  in  its  action  to  stem-end  rot  with 
which  it  may  be  confounded.  The  painstaking  work  of  H.  S. 
Fawcett  showed  it  to  be  distinct  from  the  stem-end  rot  fungus. 
This  fungus  is  often  found  associated  with  gummosis  and  has 
been  shown  to  be  capable  of  producing  copious  gumming.  Its 
work  on  sound  fruit  is  very  slow ;  in  fact,  there  is  a  doubt  if 
it  can  establish  itself  on  perfect  specimens,  but  the  least  abrasion 
will  give  it  entrance  and  the  fruit  "goes  down"  as  with  the 
stem-end  rot.  About  the  only  difference  apparent  to  the  grower 
is  that  the  fruit  rotted  with  diplodia  becomes  black  and  very 
light  in  weight  in  its  later  stages.  For  control  use  the  same 
methods  as  advised  for  stem-end  rot. 

Dropping  of  Bloom 

Much  bloom  dropping  is  natural  to  a  tree,  for  Nature  makes 
ample  provision  for  reproduction  and  many  of  the  blooms  will 
never  be  properly  pollinated.  An  early  spring  drought  following 
a  moist  winter,  late  cold  spells  chilling  the  bloom,  heavy  rains, 
and  high  winds  all  cause  loss  of  bloom  and  are  practically  beyond 
the  control  of  the  average  grower.  Irrigation  would  overcome 
the  first,  artificial  heat  the  second,  and  sufficient  wind-break  the 
fourth.  The  most  serious  of  all  losses,  though,  is  that  caused 
by  the  withertip  fungus.  The  first  sign  of  this  is  generally  the 
falling  of  unopened  buds.  If  we  find  on  these  buds  brick-red 
lesions  or  patches  we  can  be  very  sure  withertip  is  at  work,  but 
can  decide  the  question  without  doubt  by  a  strong  lens  which  will 
show  the  pustules  of  the  fungus.  This  trouble  can  be  relieved  to 
a  great  extent  by  spraying  with  ammoniacal  copper  carbonate. 
(See  Anthracnose.) 

Dropping  of  Fruit 

As  explained  under  Fertilizing,  Chapter  VIII,  the  greater 
part  of  the  loss  from  spring  dropping  can  be  prevented  by  fertil- 


62  WILSON  &  TOOMER  FERTILIZER  COMPANY 

izing  judiciously.  The  right  fertilizer  even  makes  a  great  differ- 
ence in  the  tree's  ability  to  hold  fruit  through  the  spring  drouth ; 
still,  there  is  a  limit  to  its  powers  and  every  possible  effort 
should  be  used  to  conserve  the  moisture  at  this  season.  The 
trees  will  use  it  in  growing  and  developing  the  fruit  if  it  is  not 
all  needed  to  prevent  dropping. 

Fall  dropping  is  due  to  disease  or  physical  conditions.  We 
have  taken  it  up  under  the  different  diseases  that  cause  it.  If 
heavy  rains  fall  near  ripening  season  they  are  bound  to  cause 
dropping,  and  this  we  cannot  prevent.  The  loss  from  high  winds 
in  the  fall  is  considerable  even  when  we  have  a  fairly  good  wind- 
break, and  there  always  will  be  a  small  loss  from  birds  and  in- 
sects puncturing  the  skin,  and  thereby  making  way  for  decay, 
but  by  fertilizing  and  cultivating  wisely  and  keeping  the  grove 
free  from  disease  the  grower  can  keep  his  loss  down  to  a  small 
per  cent. 

Foot  Rot 

This  disease  attacks  the  sweet  orange  and  rough  lemon  stock 
chiefly,  and,  while  quite  prevalent  in  the  days  of  sweet  seedling 
orange  groves,  has  been  reduced  to  an  occasional  appearance 
since  the  common  use  of  sour  stock,  which  is  almost  immune. 

The  first  symptom  of  foot  rot  is  an  appearance  of  gum  on  the 
trunk  near  the  base.  The  gum  will  stand  out  in  drops  over  one 
or  several  areas  and  increase  as  the  disease  develops.  The  bark 
will  be  discolored  and  have  cavities  filled  with  gum.  The  inner 
bark  decays,  giving  out  a  strong,  disagreeable  odor.  The  gum 
generally  appears  in  the  spring  or  early  autumn  and  in  al»x>ut 
three  months  the  disease  will  have  progressed  so  as  to  throw 
off  the  bark  of  the  diseased  area.  As  it  has  also  destroyed  the 
life-carrying  cambium  layer  there  is  no  chance  for  new  bark 
to  form. 

Foot  rot  can  be  distinguished  from  gummosis  by  its  position 
at  the  base  of  the  tree  and  by  its  peculiar  odor. 


IDEAL  FERTILIZERS  63 

Cause. — Improper  drainage,  too  close  planting,  excessive  and 
continuous  use  of  organic  fertilizers,  excessive  cultivation,  con- 
tinued excessive  irrigation  and  deep  planting  influence  the  dis- 
ease, but  that  it  is  not  strictly  physiological  is  shown  by  its  being 
contagious. 

Preventives. — Plant  sour  stock  and  avoid  the  conditions 
named  above  as  being  favorable  for  the  development  of  the  dis- 
ease. When  foot  rot  is  in  any  part  of  the  grove  great  care 
should  be  taken  not  to  spread  it.  Infected  trees  should  not  re- 
ceive any  part  of  their  cultivation  continuously  with  the  rest  of 
the  grove,  for  the  plow  or  harrow  is  likely  to  carry  contagion  as 
well  as  the  hoe  or  knife.  Any  tool  used  around  a  diseased  tree 
should  be  washed  in  equal  parts  of  crude  carbolic  acid  and  water 
immediately  so  there  can  be  no  possibility  of  its  infecting  other 
trees. 

Treatment. — Sunlight  and  air  seem  to  be  the  essential  reme- 
dies. The  dirt  should  be  removed  from  around  the  roots  for  two 
or  three  feet  from  the  trunk  and  farther  if  necessary  to  reach  all 
diseased  portions.  Six  months  is  none  too  long  to  leave  the  tree 
this  way,  though,  of  course,  one  must  not  endanger  the  life  of 
his  tree  through  exposure  to  cold.  All  diseased  portions  of  bark, 
trunk  or  roots  should  be  cut  away,  leaving  smooth  surface.  Cut 
well  back  into  healthly  tissue — the  line  of  demarcation  shows 
plainly.  Paint  these  surfaces  with  any  antiseptic.  Carbolineum 
avenarius  is  our  preference,  but  carbolic  acid  diluted  one-half, 
soda-sulphur  solution,  and  even  whitewash  have  served  the  pur- 
pose. The  main  object  is  to  remove  the  infection  and  let  Nature 
heal  the  wounds.  Where  trees  are  set  too  close  they  often  have 
to  be  thinned  out  so  as  to  allow  sunlight  to  reach  the  ground 
before  this  trouble  is  overcome. 

Frenching 

This  is  a  term  used  for  a  yellowing  between  the  veins  of  the 
leaf.  Frenching  is  not  a  disease  but  is  merely  a  symptom  of  bad 


64  WILSON  &  TOOMER  FERTILIZER  COMPANY 

physiological  conditions,  and,  therefore,  may  either  accompany 
a  disease  or  be  the  first  warning  to  the  grower  that  uuhealthful 
conditions  surround  his  heretofore  flourishing  tree.  These  con- 
ditions may  be  insufficient  food  or  food  from  the  wrong  sources; 
or  a  condition  of  the  soil  that  is  uncongenial  to  proper  develop- 
ment, either  because  of  acidity  or  lack  of  proper  aeration.  Lib- 
eral application  of  well  balanced  chemical  fertilizers  will  supply 
the  proper  nutrition  and  an  application  of  ashes  or  slaked  lime 
worked  in  as  thoroughly  as  possible  without  disturbing  the  roots 
of  the  tree  will  not  only  correct  acidity,  bnit  will  improve  the 
texture  of  the  soil.  Thorough  drainage  is  essential  to  keep  the 
soil  sweet  and  mulching  is  a  help  toward  keeping  it  loose  and 
open  to  free  circulation  of  air. 

Fumigation 

There  is  no  question  but  that  the  surest  and  quickest  way  to 
rid  a  tree  of  all  insect  enemies  is  by  fumigation,  but  the  way  for 
a  community  to  make  it  a  practical  proposition  is  for  all  growers 
to  co-operate  so  that  every  grove  is  given  strict  attention.  Other- 
wise, though  a  grower  cleans  his  trees  thoroughly,  they  will 
become  reinfested  from  his  neighbor's  grove.  When  fumigation  is 
carried  on  properly  and  on  a  large  scale,  the  expense  is  slight  for 
the  results  given ;  but  since,  to  a  single  grower  the  expense  of  a 
fumigation  outfit  is  almost  prohibitive  and  the  results  likely  to  be 
unsatisfactory  unless  his  grove  is  isolated,  we  will  not  give  space 
to  the  subject  in  this  book.  Any  information  desired  will  be  fur- 
nished gladly  through  correspondence. 

Fungi 

There  are  several  friendly  fungi  which  are  either  native  of 
or  have  become  so  well  acclimated  to  Florida  that  there  is  very 
little  trouble  in  introducing  them.  It  takes  abwit  three  weeks  for 
them  to  become  so  well  established  as  to  be  visible  to  the  unaided 
eye  and  often  longer  when  dry  weather  conditions  exist.  We 


IDEAL  FERTILIZERS  65 

must  remember,  though,  that  fungi  can  do  a  vast  amount  of  work 
before  they  become  so  plentiful  as  to  be  noticed.  The  organisms 
are  so  minute  that  illustrations  have  to  be  enlarged  from  75  to 
200  times  to  give  us  any  idea  of  their  appearance,  yet,  just  one 
spore  (seed)  from  one  of  these  tiny  plants  is  sufficient  to  kill 
the  larva  upon  which  it  settles. 

These  fungi  can  be  obtained  at  slight  cost  from  Messrs.  C. 
A.  Boone,  Orlando,  Frank  H.  Davis,  Apopka,  and  others.  The 
black,  red-headed  and  white-headed  fungi  are  used  for  scale 
insects,  and  the  red,  brown  and  yellow  for  the  whitefly. 

Scale  fungi  are  generally  sold  on  pieces  of  bark  two  to  four 
inches  long  and  are  introduced  by  tying  the  bark  in  a  position 
favorable  for  the  dew  or  rain  to  carry  the  spores  to  the  scales 
below.  For  whitefly,  the  fungi  are  usually  sold  on  leaves  which 
were  pinned  in  contact  with  infested  foliage  at  first,  but  this 
method  has  been  displaced  by  spraying,  and  we  believe  scale 
fungi  will  soon  be  sprayed  also. 

About  eight  leaves  well  covered  with  ripe  red,  yellow  or 
brown  fungus  are  generally  used  to  a  gallon  of  water,  but  from 
two  to  four  times  as  many  should  be  used  when  the  fungus  js 
pink  colored  or  weathered.  They  should  be  soaked  at  least  ten 
minutes  and  may  stand  several  hours  without  injury ;  stir  well 
and  strain  through  a  fine  wire  strainer.  Do  not  put  the  fungi 
in  any  receptacle  that  has  been  used  for  Bordeaux  mixture  or 
other  fxingicides,  and  if  a  pump  with  brass  or  copper  parts  is 
used,  do  not  allow  the  spray  to  stand  longer  than  necessary  to 
do  the  work. 

For  scale,  the  trunk  and  infested  limbs  should  be  treated, 
while  for  whitefly  the  nozzle  should  be  directed  to  the  underside 
of  the  leaves.  To  do  this  the  operator  needs  to  stand  close  and 
spray  upwards  and  against  the  opposite  side  of  the  tree.  A 
powerful  pump  gives  far  better  results  than  a  weak  one  because 
of  the  spray  being  forced  through  the  foliage,  thereby  reaching 
more  of  the  leaves.  Though  fungi  may  be  introduced  at  any  time, 


68  WILSON  &  TOOMER  FERTILIZER  COMPANY 

spots  occur  on  both  sides  of  the  leaves  but  are  more  pronounced 
on  the  mid-ribs.  Sometimes  the  leaves  are  drawn  out  of  shape 
and  become  pale  or  yellowish  green.  The  markings  on  the  fruit 
are  not  so  raised  as  those  on  the  twigs  and  leaves,  and  a  cursory 
glance  might  confound  it  with  die-back  fruit,  but  the  markings 
on  the  latter  are  not  raised  and  do  not  run  in  curves  or  circles, 
and  no  gum  occurs  in  the  angles  of  the  sections  of  melanosed 
fruit.  The  melanose  spots  are  wax-like  and  shrink  toward  the 
center,  often  raising  edges  of  the  mass  and  giving  a  scale-like 
appearance. 

Melanose  is  produced  by  the  same  fungus  which  causes  stem- 
end  rot.  This  fungus  comes  to  maturity  only  in  dead  wood  and 
the  spores  are  spread  by  rain,  dew,  insects,  etc.  It  is  best  con- 
trolled by  the  pruning  and  burning  of  all  dead  wood,  even  the 
tiny  twigs.  This  work  should  be  done  during  the  dormant  seasons. 

Mites 

"Red  Spider"  and  Six-Spotted  Mite 

These  mites  are  different  when  viewed  under  a  microscope 
but  as  they  have  the  same  effect  on  the  trees  and  yield  to  the 
same  treatment,  we  feel  that  they  can  be  classed  together.  They 
are  sucking  insects  and  do  great  damage  by  causing  young  fruit  to 
drop  and  by  defoliating  the  trees.  They  flourish  during  the  dry 
spring  months  and  disappear  when  the  rainy  season  opens.  If 
one  has  an  irrigation  system  he  can  overcome  this  trouble  by 
drenching  the  trees,  but  otherwise  he  must  use  the  sulphur  prep- 
arations as  advised  under  Rust  Mite. 

Rust  Mite 

The  rust  mite  is  a  tiny  little  fellow  that  cannot  be  seen  with 
the  unaided  eye  unless  collected  in  large  numbers  when  the  whole 
army  has  the  appearance  of  a  slight  coating  of  dust.  But  though 
of  such  small  size,  its  work  is  by  no  means  insignificant.  It  is 


IDEAL  FERTILIZERS  69 

probably  safe  to  say  that  it  makes  a  difference  in  price  of  about 
fifty  cents  per  box  on  half  the  citrus  fruit  raised  in  the  State. 
Rust  mites  feed  upon  the  essential  oil  of  the  rind.  The  air  that 
enters  the  punctures  made  by  them  turns  the  oil  dark  colored 
and  thus  causes  a  "rusty"  appearance.  As  the  mites  prefer  shade 
to  direct  sunlight,  they  do  most  of  their  work  on  the  lower  side 
of  the  fruit.  Fruit  thus  attacked  is  likely  to  be  undersized. 
Strange  as  it  may  seem,  russet  oranges  are  sweeter  and  keep 
longer  than  the  brighter  and  more  attractive  fruit,  but  since  they 
do  not  bring  as  much  money  the  investor  needs  to  exterminate 
the  rust  mite  as  soon  as  it  appears.  This  is  generally  about  the 
middle  of  May,  but  sometimes  fruit  is  damaged  during  the  last 
of  April.  The  trouble  usually  continues  for  about  two  months 
but  often  hangs  on  much  later.  Indeed,  it  is  not  at  all  strange 
for  a  grower  to  find  that  his  fruit  which  was  nice  and  bright 
when  first  matured  has  grown  rusty  during  the  few  weeks  he 
has  held  it  on  the  trees. 

Preventives. — All  spider  mites  are  sensitive  to  sulphur  in  any 
form.  The  most  popular  way  to  combat  the  rust  mite  is  by  using 
a  dust  spray  of  equal  parts  of  sulphur  and  slaked  lime  every  two 
weeks  through  the  rust  mite  season.  The  one  drawback  to  this 
is  the  need  of  the  application  being  made  when  the  foliage  is  wet. 
Since  sulphur  in  this  form  is  far  less  likely  to  harm  fungi,  there 
is  seldom  need  of  spraying  for  scale  after  the  application.  Many 
growers  use  the  soda-sulphur  and  potash-sulphur  mixtures,  while 
the  paste-sulphur  spray  promises  much  to  the  grower  who  desires 
to  use  plain  sulphur,  yet  dislikes  the  dust  application.  Lime- 
sulphur  solution  may  also  be  used  but  care  must  be  taken  not  to 
burn  the  foliage. 

Scab 

The  prominent  characteristic  of  this  disease  is  the  wart- 
like  excrescences  on  both  leaves  and  fruit.  They  are  the  work 
of  a  minute  fungus  which  can  attack  only  rapidly  growing  tissue. 
Spring  drouths  usually  protect  our  fruit,  as  the  fungus  can 


68  WILSON  &  TOOMER  FERTILIZER  COMPANY 

spots  occur  on  both  sides  of  the  leaves  but  are  more  prouounced 
on  the  mid-ribs.  Sometimes  the  leaves  are  drawn  out  of  shape 
and  become  pale  or  yellowish  green.  The  markings  on  the  fruit 
are  not  so  raised  as  those  on  the  twigs  and  leaves,  and  a  cursory 
glance  might  confound  it  with  die-back  fruit,  but  the  markings 
on  the  latter  are  not  raised  and  do  not  run  in  curves  or  circles, 
and  no  gum  occurs  in  the  angles  of  the  sections  of  melanosed 
fruit.  The  inelanose  spots  are  wax-like  and  shrink  toward  the 
center,  often  raising  edges  of  the  mass  and  giving  a  scale-like 
appearance. 

Melanose  is  produced  by  the  same  fungus  which  causes  stem- 
end  rot.  This  fungus  comes  to  maturity  only  in  dead  wood  and 
the  spores  are  spread  by  rain,  dew,  insects,  etc.  It  is  best  con- 
trolled by  the  pruning  and  burning  of  all  dead  wood,  even  the 
tiny  twigs.  This  work  should  be  done  during  the  dormant  seasons. 

Mites 

"Red  Spider"  and  Six-Spotted  Mite 

These  mites  are  different  when  viewed  under  a  microscope 
but  as  they  have  the  same  effect  on  the  trees  and  yield  to  the 
same  treatment,  we  feel  that  they  can  be  classed  together.  They 
are  sucking  insects  and  do  great  damage  by  causing  young  fruit  to 
drop  and  by  defoliating  the  trees.  They  flourish  during  the  dry 
spring  months  and  disappear  when  the  rainy  season  opens.  If 
one  has  an  irrigation  system  he  can  overcome  this  trouble  by 
drenching  the  trees,  but  otherwise  he  must  use  the  sulphur  prep- 
arations as  advised  under  Rust  Mite. 

Rust  Mite 

The  rust  mite  is  a  tiny  little  fellow  that  cannot  be  seen  with 
the  unaided  eye  unless  collected  in  large  numbers  when  the  whole 
army  has  the  appearance  of  a  slight  coating  of  dust.  But  though 
of  such  small  size,  its  work  is  by  no  means  insignificant.  It  is 


IDEAL  FERTILIZERS  69 

probably  safe  to  say  that  it  makes  a  difference  in  price  of  about 
fifty  cents  per  box  on  half  the  citrus  fruit  raised  in  the  State. 
Rust  mites  feed  upon  the  essential  oil  of  the  rind.  The  air  that 
enters  the  punctures  made  by  them  turns  the  oil  dark  colored 
and  thus  causes  a  "rusty"  appearance.  As  the  mites  prefer  shade 
to  direct  sunlight,  they  do  most  of  their  work  on  the  lower  side 
of  the  fruit.  Fruit  thus  attacked  is  likely  to  be  undersized. 
Strange  as  it  may  seem,  russet  oranges  are  sweeter  and  keep 
longer  than  the  brighter  and  more  attractive  fruit,  but  since  they 
do  not  bring  as  much  money  the  investor  needs  to  exterminate 
the  rust  mite  as  soon  as  it  appears.  This  is  generally  about  the 
middle  of  May,  but  sometimes  fruit  is  damaged  during  the  last 
of  April.  The  trouble  usually  continues  for  about  two  months 
but  often  hangs  on  much  later.  Indeed,  it  is  not  at  all  strange 
for  a  grower  to  find  that  his  fruit  which  was  nice  and  bright 
when  first  matured  has  grown  rusty  during  the  few  weeks  he 
has  held  it  on  the  trees. 

Preventives. — All  spider  mites  are  sensitive  to  sulphur  in  any 
form.  The  most  popular  way  to  combat  the  rust  mite  is  by  using 
a  dust  spray  of  equal  parts  of  sulphur  and  slaked  lime  every  two 
weeks  through  the  rust  mite  season.  The  one  drawback  to  this 
is  the  need  of  the  application  being  made  when  the  foliage  is  wet. 
Since  sulphur  in  this  form  is  far  less  likely  to  harm  fungi,  there 
is  seldom  need  of  spraying  for  scale  after  the  application.  Many 
growers  use  the  soda-sulphur  and  potash-sulphur  mixtures,  while 
the  paste-sulphur  spray  promises  much  to  the  grower  who  desires 
to  use  plain  sulphur,  yet  dislikes  the  dust  application.  Lime- 
sulphur  solution  may  also  be  used  but  care  must  be  taken  not  to 
burn  the  foliage. 

Scab 

The  prominent  characteristic  of  this  disease  is  the  wart- 
like  excrescences  on  both  leaves  and  fruit.  They  are  the  work 
of  a  minute  fungus  which  can  attack  only  rapidly  growing  tissue. 
Spring  drouths  usually  protect  our  fruit,  as  the  fungus  can 


70  WILSON  &  TOOMER  FERTILIZER  COMPANY 

develop  only  under  moist  conditions  and  the  fruit  is  past  the 
susceptible  period  before  the  summer  rains  occur.  Sweet  oranges 
are  practically  immune.  Sour  oranges  and  lemons  are  special 
hosts  and  should  not  be  allowed  to  grow  near  grapefruit,  satsumas 
or  tangerines  as  they  will  infect  these  fruits  should  a  few  rainy 
days  occur  in  the  spring. 

Scales 

Although  there  are  many  different  species  of  scales,  it  is  not 
absolutely  necessary  for  the  practical  grower  to  distinguish  them, 
as  all  yield  to  about  the  same  treatment.  Scales  are  sucking 
insects,  and  in  addition  to  extracting  the  juices  of  a  tree  and  thus 
robbing  it  of  its  nourishment,  they  cause  irritation  either  by  the 
beak  itself  or  by  the  injection  of  a  poison.  This  is  insignificant 
for  the  single  individual,  but  scales  multiply  rapidly  and  soon 
their  number  will  greatly  weaken  a  tree.  Their  presence  also 
tends  to  smother  vegetation  as  they  pack  so  closely  that  they 
interfere  with  normal  respiration.  This  is  especially  true  of 
those  that  exude  honeydew,  for  the  honeydew  itself  helps  to  close 
the  pores  and  besides  it  is  likely  to  become  the  host  of  sooty  mold 
which  will  further  restrict  proper  functioning  in  the  areas  it 
covers.  Dry  weather  induces  scale  increase.  It  retards  the 
growth  of  the  fungi  that  keep  the  scale  in  check  and  also  renders 
the  trees  less  able  to  stand  the  drain  put  upon  them.  It  is  an 
established  fact  that  insects  as  well  as  diseases  are  generally 
quick  to  injure  weakened  vegetation,  so  the  grower  can  make 
his  first  and  most  effective  stand  against  such  troubles  by  keeping 
his  trees  vigorous. 

Under  Fungi  will  be  found  necessary  information  in  regard 
to  introducing  Nature's  remedy,  but  as  we  cannot  always  wait 
for  that  and  since  there  are  many  who  prefer  to  spray,  we  will 
consider  the  application  of  contact  insecticides. 

The  time  and  manner  of  spraying  is  fully  as  important  as  the 
solution  to  be  used.  Scales  produce  from  two  to  four  broods  per 


IDEAL  FERTILIZERS  71 

season.  The  time  when  these  broods  may  be  expected  depends 
much  upon  climatic  conditions,  so  there  can  be  no  satisfactory 
spraying  calendar  prepared.  A  grower  should  be  able  to  recognize 
the  eggs  and  larvae  and  spray  when  by  the  number  of  larvae  it 
would  seem  that  the  brood  has  hatched.  Since  it  is  not  possible 
to  see  the  newly  hatched  larvae  with  the  unaided  eye,  a  hand  lens 
should  be  used  when  they  will  show  as  small,  yellowish  or  whitish 
insects,  sometimes  crawling,  sometimes  at  rest.  Soon  they  attach 
themselves  to  the  tree,  on  either  the  bark,  leaves,  or  fruit,  and 
become  covered  with  a  waxy  secretion,  at  which  stage  they  show 
as  tiny  white  dots.  It  is  during  these  two  stages  (the  crawling 
larvae  and  the  newly  settled  larvae)  that  spraying  during  warm 
weather  should  be  done,  for  the  eggs  and  adult  scales  are  not  so 
easily  destroyed.  Some  scales,  like  the  San  Jose  scale  for  in- 
stance, do  not  lay  eggs,  but  give  birth  to  living  young  which 
appear  irregularly  and  not  in  broods. 

There  is  generally  a  brood  of  young  scale  in  early  spring. 
One  pound  of  whale  oil  soap  to  six  gallons  of  water  is  effective 
against  scale  larvae;  but  any  spray  is  likely  to  cause  newly  set 
fruit  to  drop,  so  the  spraying  should  be  either  postponed  until  the 
fruit  is  the  size  of  a  hickory  nut  or  directed  against  only  the 
trunk  and  limbs  where  the  scales  are  gathered.  As  the  season 
is  more  advanced  whale  oil  soap  may  \se  used  as  strong  as  twelve 
pounds  to  fifty  gallons  of  water.  We  consider  Yothers'  Formula 
No.  3  the  best  spray  of  all,  bait  kerosense  emulsion,  kerosene  and 
water,  and  tobacco  decoction  are  also  effective  when  correctly 
applied.  In  using  kerosene  great  care  must  be  taken  not 
to  burn  the  foliage.  It  must  be  in  right  proportion  and  used  on 
sunny  days.  The  above  remedies  are  not  fungicides  and  therefore 
will  not  interfere  with  fungi  becoming  established. 

Scaly  Bark,  or  Nail  Head  Rust 

This  disease  is  at  present  confined  to  a  very  small  part  of 
the  orange  growing  section.  It  is  caused  by  a  certain  fungus  or 


72  WILSON  &  TOOMER  FERTILIZER  COMPANY 

probably  a  combination  of  two  or  more  fungi  and  has  L-een  present 
in  the  State  fully  forty  years.  However,  it  is  only  recently  that  it 
has  developed  into  a  real  menace  to  groves.  The  scaly  bark 
fungus  seems  to  be  very  slow  acting  until  brought  into  association 
with  the  withertip  fungus,  but  the  work  of  the  two  together  has 
created  a  problem  that  as  yet  has  not  been  entirely  solved. 

We  quote  in  full  Fawcett's  description  of  the  first  stages  of 
scaly  bark  attack,  and  trust  all  will  note  same  carefully,  because, 
by  prompt  and  decisive  action,  the  disease  can  be  eradicated 
before  any  real  damage  is  done : 

"1 — On  the  smooth  bark  of  branches  six  to  nine  mouths  old  and 
older  will  be  found  more  or  less  round  or  oval  spots  one-sixth 
to  one-half  inch  broad,  raised  above  the  surface,  rusty  in  color, 
with  well-marked  edges.  As  the  spots  grow  older  the  bark 
becomes  glazed,  then  brittle,  shows  cracks  running  lengthways 
and  at  last  breaks  into  small  flakes  and  scales.  In  severe  cases 
of  scaly  bark  these  spots  increase  in  number  till  they  join  together, 
forming  large  patches  of  rusty  or  reddish-brown  scaly  and 
scabby  bark. 

"2 — On  the  larger  limbs,  and  sometimes  on  the  trunk,  will  l;e 
seen  patches  of  rough  shaggy  bark,  the  small  pieces  of  which 
shell  off  as  the  hand  is  passed  over  them.  (In  some  cases  this 
shagginess  of  the  old  bark  may  be  absent.) 

"3 — On  the  fruit  will  usually  be  found  brown  sunken  spots, 
some  of  which  are  apt  to  be  in  the  form  of  sunken  rings.  These 
spots  are  at  first  yellowish  to  reddish-brown  on  the  green  fruit, 
and  finally  become  dark  and  sunken.  In  ringed  spots  the  rings 
first  become  sunken,  with  a  higher  part  inside.  This  central  part 
afterwards  sinks  in,  and  the  whole  area  inside  the  ring  becomes 
dark.  The  spots  vary  in  breadth  from  one-fifth  to  one-half  inch." 

Scaly  bark  will  spread  over  the  whole  tree  from  the  trunk 
to  the  tiniest  twigs  if  allowed  to  do  so,  the  diseased  areas  running 
into  each  other  until  finally  limbs  are  girdled  and  die.  Not  only 
this  but  the  withertip  fungus  attacks  these  diseased  places  and 


IDEAL  FERTILIZERS  73 

kills  branch  after  branch  with  its  poisonous  action  and  also 
hastens  the  work  of  scaly  bark.  Where  scaly  bark  has  become 
thoroughly  established  there  are  three  ways  to  deal  with  it: 
(1)  Applications  of  Bordeaux  mixture  after  pruning  out 
thoroughly,  which  diminishes  the  percentage  of  affected  fruit,  but 
unless  followed  by  sprays  of  good  insecticides,  this  treatment 
allows  scale  to  increase  to  such  an  extent  as  to  damage  the  trees 
about  as  much  as  the  scaly  bark.  (2)  Heading  Back. — This 
should  be  done  in  December  or  January,  before  the  trees  start  to 
grow.  Cut  out  the  top,  leaving  only  the  trunk  and  stubs  of  the 
larger  branches  and  paint  these  thoroughly  with  one-half  strength 
carbolineum.  By  the  end  of  summer  a  vigorous  top  will  have 
made  which  is  free  from  the  disease  but  unless  the  whole  grove 
is  treated  this  way  the  tree  is  likely  to  become  infected  again. 
(3)  Top  Working. — Really  the  most  feasible  way  known  at  the 
present  time  is  to  top  work  the  grove  in  the  scaly  bark  section, 
grafting  in  varieties  immune  to  the  disease.  This,  though  drastic, 
wins  the  battle  at  once,  while  the  other  methods  are  a  continual 
and  expensive  fight  against  the  ravages  of  the  enemy.  Grape- 
fruit, tangerines  and  mandarins  all  appear  to  resist  scaly  bark. 
That  the  loss  of  income  may  not  be  too  great  it  is  well  to  treat 
alternate  rows  through  the  grove  and  when  these  trees  come 
to  bearing,  top-graft  the  other. 

Gummosis  in  its  more  advanced  stages  greatly  resembles  scaly 
bark,  but  there  are  some  strong  distinguishing  features,  so  close 
observation  will  prevent  the  two  being  confounded.  These  points 
are  taken  up  under  Gummosis. 

Sooty  Mold 

Sooty  mold  is  a  black  fungus  that  lives  upon  the  honey- 
dew  excreted  by  insects.  It  will  soon  follow  the  appearance 
of  the  whitefly,  mealy  bug,  soft  scales,  wax  scales,  or  cottony 
cushion  scales.  Since  the  honeydew  falls  upon  the  leaves  and 
fruit  below,  sooty  mold  becomes  better  established  upon  the 


74  WILSON  &  TOOMER  FERTILIZER  COMPANY 

upper  surfaces.  To  many  who  have  not  studied  plant  life,  its 
presence  means  only  the  added  trouble  and  expense  of  washing 
the  fruit  before  shipping,  but  this  is  the  least  important  result  of 
its  presence. 

Though  it  does  not  enter  the  tree  at  all,  it  fits  so  closely  to  it, 
especially  to  the  leaves  that  the  pores  are  clogged  and  respira- 
tion is  more  or  less  prevented  in  the  areas  covered.  Respiration  is 
the  only  means  vegetation  has  to  obtain  its  carbon.  Since  carbon 
is  a  large  per  cent,  of  all  solid  vegetable  matter,  all  the  functions 
of  the  tree  are  limited  by  the  supply  of  cartxm,  and  any  inter- 
ference with  respiration  is  a  serious  restriction.  Not  only  this, 
but  the  chlorophyll  can  act  on  the  carbon  present  only 
when  exposed  to  the  light  and  in  proportion  to  the  directness  of 
the  sun's  rays.  Thus  the  shade  produced  by  the  presence  of 
sooty  mold  further  weakens  the  proper  functions  of  the  covered 
portions.  Green  fruit  carries  on  this  assimilation  of  carbon  the 
same  as  leaves  and  green  twigs.  When  the  immature  fruit  is 
coated  with  sooty  mold  it  generally  does  not  attain  full  size  and 
is  even  more  lacking  in  sweetness  and  flavor  because  of  its  in- 
ability to  manufacture  sugar  without  proper  supply  of  carbon 
and  sunlight;  hence  the  effects  of  sooty  mold  are  far  beyond 
remedy  by  washing. 

Preventives.— -Sooty  mold  can  be  killed  by  any  fungicide,  but 
our  friendly  fungi  will  be  killed  at  the  same  time,  and  by  the 
time  the  dead  sooty  mold  has  "weathered"  off,  new  will  have 
established  itself  if  the  insects  are  still  present,  so  the  real  point 
of  attack  should  be  the  insects. 

When  they  are  exterminated  the  sooty  mold  must  die  from 
lack  of  nourishment.  A  spray  of  whale  oil  soap  or  of  Yothers' 
Formula  No.  3  is  more  or  less  effective  in  loosening  this  sooty 
mold.  After  it  is  loosened  the  winds  and  rains  soon  remove  a 
large  percentage  of  it,  so  such  an  application  may  sometimes  be 
of  great  advantage. 


IDEAL  FERTILIZERS  75 

Stem-End  Rot 

This  disease  was  first  noticed  in  the  fall  of  1909.  A  circular 
patch  around  the  stem  of  the  fruit  becomes  soft  but  at  first  is 
not  discolored.  Later  it  turns  dull  brown,  drab,  or  dark  coffee 
color,  sometimes  exuding  a  sticky  brown  juice.  The  decay  attacks 
the  dividing  tissue  of  the  segments  before  the  juice  sacs  but  does 
not  turn  it  black  as  does  the  diplodia.  The  fungus  lives  in  dead 
branches  but  seems  to  be  able  to  enter  perfectly  sound  fruit  and 
young  twigs,  the  latter  often  dying  back  from  three  to  twelve 
inches.  The  fruit  begins  to  show  its  effect  in  August.  Grape- 
fruit and  sweet  oranges  usually  begin  to  drop  before  any  infection 
can  be  noticed;  indeed,  the  slow  development  of  the  fungus  is  a 
point  of  extreme  importance  to  the  grower,  as  his  fruit  may  b'e 
quite  badly  infected  within  yet  give  no  external  indications.  He 
ships  it  supposing  it  to  be  sound  only  to  find  it  has  "broken  down" 
before  reaching  the  consumer. 

It  has  been  determined  that  stem-end  rot  and  inelanose  are 
different  manifestations  of  the  same  fungus,  therefore,  the 
pruning  for  melanose  also  reduces  stem-end  rot  infection  though 
it  does  not  entirely  prevent  it  owing  to  the  (practically)  im- 
possibility of  removing  all  dead  wood.  This,  however,  is  the  best 
means  of  control  known  up  to  the  present  time. 
Whitefly 

The  whitefly  is  a  tiny  insect,  but  it  has  created  a  great 
problem.  Theoretically,  the  trouble  can  be  overcome  by  correct 
fumigation,  by  introducing  fungi  during  the  period  of  summer 
rains,  and  by  spraying  judiciously  during  spring,  fall  and  winter. 

Practically,  while  the  whitefly  has  been  kept  out  of  many 
sections  we  do  not  know  of  any  infested  area  where  the  whitefly 
has  been  exterminated.  Some  groves,  which  became  infested 
before  the  danger  was  realized  or  proper  treatment  known,  are 
owned  by  men  as  capable  as  can  be  found  in  the  State,  who  have 
a  surplus  of  capital  and  energy,  and  yet  they  acknowledge  defeat. 
Their  most  strenuous  efforts  keep  the  fly  down  only  enough  to 


76  WILSON  &  TOOMER  FERTILIZER  COMPANY 

allow  crops  to  be  grown,  and  each  year  brings  a  renewal  of  the 
battle.  This  experience  is  a  great  lesson — keep  the  whitefly  out. 
Clear  away  its  food  plants :  China  and  umbrella  trees,  persimmon, 
olive,  green  ash,  jessamine  and  privet,  which  it  prefers  next  to 
citrus;  honeysuckle,  fig,  oleander,  pear,  etc.,  which  are  its  second 
choice ;  in  all  twenty-seven  different  kinds.  If  one  learns  of 
whitefly  appearing  in  any  part  of  his  section,  he  should  act 
promptly.  It  is  just  as  much  to  his  interest  to  exterminate  it 
as  though  he  owned  the  trees,  and  it  is  far  more  profitable  to 
fight  whitefly  in  a  neighbor's  grove  than  at  home. 

There  are  three  species  of  the  whitefly.  The  "woolly  whitefly" 
is  scarcely  known  and  the  "cloudy  winged"  species  is  less 
dangerous.  It  is  the  "white  winged"  species  that  has  made  itself 
so  famous  (or  infamous)  among  citrus  growers.  In  summer  the 
life  cycle  (from  egg  to  adult)  is  from  forty  to  fifty  days.  In 
winter  the  time  varies  according  to  weather.  There  are  seven 
stages  in  the  whitefly's  development :  egg,  four  different  stages  of 
larva,  pupa  and  adult.  It  is  most  difficult  to  kill  the  egg,  pupa 
and  adult  by  anything  but  fumigation,  hence  it  is  no  time  to  act 
when  the  adults  are  swarming  and  making  themselves  so 
prominent.  They  are  laying  eggs  which  are  so  small  20,000  of 
them  have  been  found  on  a  single  leaf.  In  about  two  weeks  after 
the  swarm  has  disappeared  the  larvae  will  have  hatched.  The 
newly  hatched  larvae  are  only  about  one-eightieth  of  an  inch 
long  and  are  so  thin  as  to  seem  like  flattened  white  scales.  At 
this  time  at  least  95  per  cent,  of  them  can  be  killed  with  a  weak 
whale  oil  soap  spray,  but  thorough  work  must  be  done  to  accom- 
plish this  result  The  spray  must  reach  the  insects,  which  are 
on  the  under  side  of  the  leaves.  The  result  of  this  depends  more 
upon  the  workman  than  upon  the  mixture  used.  At  the  fourth 
stage  the  larvae  are  about  one-eighteenth  of  an  inch  long.  As 
they  increase  in  size  and  vigor  they  are  more  resistant,  but  it  is 
quite  possible  to  spray  so  as  to  kill  nearly  all  of  them  up  to  the 
pupal  stage,  and  even  some  of  the  pupse. 


IDEAL  FERTILIZERS  77 

There  generally  are  three  well-defined  broods  of  whitefly. 
The  first  appears  in  March,  April  or  May;  the  second  is  seen  in 
June,  July  or  August,  and  the  third  in  August,  September  or 
October. 

Dr.  E.  W.  Berger,  of  the  Florida  Experiment  Station,  has 
given  the  whitefly  most  careful  study.  Indeed,  it  is  due  largely 
to  his  work  that  so  much  is  known  of  its  life  and  that  it  can  be 
checked  so  effectively.  He  advises  spraying  with  whale  oil  soap 
or  one  of  the  Yothers'  formulas  in  the  spring,  and  urges  doing 
the  work  as  soon  as  the  young  are  well  out  for  four  reasons: 
"(1)  The  whiteflies  are  in  the  young  larval  stages  and  are  easily 
killed;  (2)  they  are  mainly  on  the  new  growth  and  more  easily 
sprayed;  (3)  the  larvae  are  destroyed  before  sapping  the  strength 
of  the  new  growth,  and  before  much  sooty  mold  has  developed; 
(4)  there  is  little  rain  to  interfere  with  the  spraying."  During 
the  summer  he  recommends  introducing  fungi,  as  this  is  a 
favorable  season  for  fungi  to  become  established  sufficiently  to 
do  more  or  less  good  throughout  the  year,  and  because  he  feels 
that  sprays  of  insecticides  will  do  little  good  at  this  time  since 
there  are  so  many  eggs  and  adults  that  will  not  be  affected.  The 
red  fungus  is  to  be  preferred,  for  it  will  grow  on  both  the  white 
and  cloudy  winged  species  and  seems  to  be  more  hardy  than  the 
others.  Brown  fungus  is  rather  uncertain  to  start  but  does 
most  thorough  work  when  once  established.  Yellow  fungus 
will  grow  only  on  the  cloudy  winged  whitefly.  The  white 
fringe  fungus  is  very  delicate.  Unless  the  fungi  are  very  well 
established  the  fall  brood  of  larvae  should  be  sprayed  in  October 
or  early  November.  We  consider  Yothers'  Formula  No.  3  the  best 
spray  for  this.  It  is  essential  to  leave  as  few  whiteflies  as 
possible  to  over-winter,  for  although  they  are  more  or  less  dormant 
through  cold  weather,  the  first  sign  of  spring  finds  them  hard 
at  work  increasing  their  numbers. 

Winter  is  the  proper  time  for  fumigation.  Send  for  special 
information  in  regard  to  this.  Sprays  at  this  season  should  be 


78  WILSON  &  TOOMER  FERTILIZER  COMPANY 

much  stronger.  Whale  oil  soap  may  be  used  at  the  rate  of  one 
pound  to  four  or  five  gallons  of  water  or  Formula  No.  3  or  No.  4 
at  the  200-gallon  strength.  Kerosene  emulsion  and  other  contact 
insecticides  are  also  effective.  It  is  important  that  the  spraying 
be  so  thorougly  done  that  the  foliage  is  drenched. 

It  is  far  better  for  a  community  to  form  an  association  and 
thus  have  every  grove  thoroughly  treated.  One  neglected  grove 
will  serve  to  keep  the  whole  neighborhood  fighting.  One  town 
in  Middle  Florida  has  kept  this  pest  at  bay  by  work  carried  on 
with  the  fund  raised  by  an  assessment  of  one  cent  per  tree. 
Several  growers  have  kept  the  fly  to  one  corner  of  the  grove  by 
frequent  and  thorough  sprayings.  We  now  know  the  power  of  the 
whitefly,  and  there  is  no  excuse  for  its  being  allowed  to  increase 
its  territory. 

Withertip 

"We  have  mentioned  in  the  article  on  Authracnose  Prof.  Rolfs' 
valuable  work  in  recognizing  that  several  diseases  in  the  citrus 
grove  were  due  to  one  fungus.  This  fungus  has  a  long  Latin 
name  (Colletotrichum  glreosporioides),  but  is  now  generally 
known  as  the  "withertip  fungus."  It  seems  to  be  almost  univer- 
sally present  throughout  the  State  and  ever  ready  to  do  its 
deadly  work  where  other  factors  have  paved  its  way  by  weaken- 
ing the  trees.  Its  one  redeeming  feature  is  that  it  cannot  attack 
healthly  vegetation. 

Withertip,  as  its  name  implies,  causes  the  young  growth  to  die 
back.  It  may  be  distinguished  from  die-back  by  the  lack  of 
multiple  buds  and  gum  pockets,  and  from  Might  by  the  foliage 
not  wilting,  but  it  is  very  likely  to  be  found  in  a  tree  suffering 
from  die-back  or  blight,  for  such  conditions  invite  its  appearance. 
Withertip  will  attack  trees  of  all  ages,  even  seedlings  in  the 
nurseries.  On  budded  trees  less  than  a  year  old  it  generally 
confines  itself  to  the  leaves  but  unless  the  trouble  is  corrected  it 
will  finally  extend  into  the  twigs  and  kill  them  back.  In  this  way 
a  tree  may  not  increase  in  size  for  four  or  five  years,  and  prob- 


IDEAL  FERTILIZERS  79 

ably  will  finally  die.  On  older  trees  it  works  in  various  ways. 
By  killing  new  growth  it  prevents  much  blooming;  by  infecting 
the  Mooins  it  causes  many  to  fall,  and  then  much  of  the  young 
fruit  that  sets  is  lost  before  it  is  the  size  of  a  marble.  We  have 
discussed  this  matter  under  Anthracnose. 

Remedies. — Since  this  is  a  fungous  trouble,  it  would  seem  that 
thorough  spraying  with  a  fungicide  would  cure  it,  but,  un- 
fortunately, the  action  of  the  fungus  creates  a  toxine  that  is 
taken  up  by  the  sap  and  is  beyond  the  reach  of  sprays.  This 
demands  the  use  of  the  pruning  knife.  One  can  see  how  far  the 
toxine  has  entered  by  the  gray  color  of  the  bark,  or  by  the  yellow- 
ing of  the  leaves  on  the  twigs,  and  must  cut  well  below  the 
affected  wood  and  close  to  an  elbow.  Leave  no  stubs  as  they 
are  likely  to  become  reinfected.  Often  one  will  find  a  line  of 
demarcation  between  the  gray  and  the  natural  twig.  That  is  a 
sign  that  the  tree  has  established  a  barrier  and  the  toxine  can  go 
no  further  in  that  twig,  but  when  withertip  is  established  in  any 
part,  the  tree  will  weaken  more  and  more  until  its  usefulness  is 
over.  This  pruning  should  be  done  twice  a  year  when  the  trees 
are  not  growing  vigorously,  probably  in  January  and  July.  The 
work  must  be  thorough  to  be  effective — all  diseased  wood  should 
be  taken  away — the  cuts  must  be  smooth  and  the  larger  cut 
surfaces  treated  as  described  under  Gummosis.  Burn  the  prun- 
ings.  Give  the  trees  plenty  of  well  balanced  fertilizer  and  extra 
good  care  in  every  way  to  make  a  vigorous  growth  that  will  repel 
the  attacks  of  the  fungus. 

Yellow  Spotting 

This  is  not  the  well  known  "leaf  spot"  which  is  now  recognized 
as  the  effect  of  the  withertip  fungus,  though  this  fungus  is  often 
present  as  in  other  cases,  where  by  any  cause  the  tree  is  weakened 
and  greatly  aggravates  the  trouble,  nor  is  it  the  yellowing  caused 
by  die-back,  starvation,  insects,  etc.,  but  a  disease  distinct  in  it- 
self. The  exact  cause  is  unknown  but  apparently  yellow  spotting 
is  due  to  direct  effects  of  improper  culture  or  fertilization,  or  to 


80  WILSON  &  TOOMER  FERTILIZER  COMPANY 

the  condition  of  the  soil  brought  about  by  such  methods.  In  the 
grove  it  has  the  appearance  of  being  contagious,  but  scientific 
efforts  to  transmit  the  disease  have  not  been  successful,  so  its 
attacks  on  groups  of  trees  may  be  due  wholly  to  the  fact  that 
these  trees  suffer  under  the  same  conditions.  Trees  under  three 
or  four  years  of  age  are  seldom  attacked.  Generally  the  spotting 
is  noticed  after  a  heavy  crop  of  fruit  which  is  good  proof  that 
lack  of  vitality  induces  its  development.  It  is  confined  to  the 
leaves  and  in  light  attacks  does  little  damage,  but  since  the 
leaves  are  the  organs  for  both  breathing  and  digestion,  anything 
interfering  to  any  extent  with  their  proper  functioning  is  most 
serious.  Yellow  spot  causes  swelling  in  the  spongy  tissues  of 
the  leaves  and  the  formation  of  a  corky  tissue  which  excludes  the 
air  and  thus  stops  all  action  in  diseased  areas,  but  even  more 
serious  than  the  disease  itself,  is  the  foothold  it  gives  to  the 
withertip  fungus;  so  it  is  important  to  recognize  its  appearance 
and  take  prompt  action  toward  building  up  the  general  health  of 
the  tree.  B.  F.  Floyd  describes  yellow  spot  as  follows: 

"There  are  many  variations  in  the  gross  appearance  of  the 
spots,  thus  making  it  difficult  to  give  an  exact  description  of 
them.  These  variations  are  evidently  due  to  the  different  reac- 
tions of  the  leaf-tissue  to  the  disease  stimulus.  The  typical  spots 
on  the  leaves  are  yellowish  to  golden-colored  areas,  a  fraction  of 
an  inch  or  more  in  diameter.  They  usually  occur  between  the 
main  veins  and  extend  through  the  substance  of  the  leaf.  The 
areas  differ  in  appearance  on  the  upper  and  under  surfaces.  On 
the  upper  surface  the  yellowish  or  golden  color  is  more  notice- 
able ;  the  central  portion  of  the  area  is  often  darker  in  color  than 
the  margin.  It  often  presents  a  shiny,  dark  brown  appearance. 
The  discolored  area  is  not  raised  above  the  surrounding  surface 
of  the  leaf.  The  surface  of  the  spot  on  the  lower  side  of  the  leaf 
is  often  rough  and  projecting.  It  usually  has  a  dull,  greasy  look, 
and  a  yellowish-brown  or  olive-green  color.  The  surface  in  old 
spots  may  become  dark  colored  and  melanose-like." 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  AT  LOS  ANGELES 
THE  UNIVERSITY  LIBRARY 

This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below 


Form  L-9-15m-3,'34 


UC  SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 


SB 
A    001  429918    4  "  369 

P88c2 


I 


